Silk and synthetic polymers: reconciling 100 degrees of separation.

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. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim