Communication

Silk and Synthetic Polymers: Reconciling 100 Degrees of Separation

  1. Chris Holland1,
  2. Fritz Vollrath1,
  3. Anthony J. Ryan2,
  4. Oleksandr O. Mykhaylyk2,*

Article first published online: 23 NOV 2011

DOI: 10.1002/adma.201103664

Issue

Advanced Materials

Advanced Materials

Volume 24, Issue 1, pages 105–109, January 3, 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Holland, C., Vollrath, F., Ryan, A. J. and Mykhaylyk, O. O. (2012), Silk and Synthetic Polymers: Reconciling 100 Degrees of Separation. Adv. Mater., 24: 105–109. doi: 10.1002/adma.201103664

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK

  2. 2

    Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S3 7HF, UK

*Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S3 7HF, UK.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 29 DEC 2011
  2. Article first published online: 23 NOV 2011
  3. Manuscript Received: 23 SEP 2011

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article with Supporting Information (HTML) Get PDF (1896K)

Keywords:

  • polymer fibers;
  • silk;
  • polarized-light imaging;
  • shear-induced crystallization;
  • rheology
Thumbnail image of graphical abstract

It is shown that the work required to produce natural silk fibers is at least ten times less than a classic synthetic polymer, yet still nature produces a fiber with superior mechanical properties. The concept of polymer crystallization is (re)defined and silks are classed as a new nanocomposite state of biological matter called aquamelts.

View Full Article with Supporting Information (HTML) Get PDF (1896K)