30 research outputs found

    Polymer fibers: silk and synthetic polymers: reconciling 100 degrees of separation (adv. Mater. 1/2012).

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    The image shows a sketch of a Chinese silkworm spinning a silk fiber. Using shear-induced polarization light imaging, Oleksandr O. Mykhaylyk and co-workers at Sheffield and Oxford Universities demonstrate on page 105 that the work required to produce natural silk fibers is at least ten times less than that required for a typical synthetic polymer. They also (re)define the concept of polymer crys-tallization and class silks as a new nanocomposite state of biological matter: "aquamelts"

    Silk and synthetic polymers: reconciling 100 degrees of separation.

    No full text
    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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