Heterogeneous morphology of Nephila edulis spider silk and its significance for mechanical properties

Authors
Shao, Z Hu, XW Frische, S Vollrath, F
Citation
Z. Shao et al., Heterogeneous morphology of Nephila edulis spider silk and its significance for mechanical properties, POLYMER, 40(16), 1999, pp. 4709-4711
Citations number
19
Categorie Soggetti
Organic Chemistry/Polymer Science
Journal title
POLYMER
ISSN journal
00323861 → ACNP
Volume
40
Issue
16
Year of publication
1999
Pages
4709 - 4711
Database
ISI
SICI code
0032-3861(199907)40:16<4709:HMONES>2.0.ZU;2-7
Abstract
Previous work has shown that dragline silk of Nephila madagcariensis is not homogeneous in cross-section. We report here that the core of Nephila edul is silk also contains extremely fine elongated, electron lucent domains. Th ese domains may contribute to the exceptional tensile strength and toughnes s of this material by acting as stress concentration parts or land fluid-fi lled canaliculi. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.