Silk and synthetic polymers: reconciling 100 degrees of separation.
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 sta...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2012
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| Summary: | 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. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim. |
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