![]() ![]() So our study looked at whether spider silk's properties could be 'enhanced' by artificially incorporating various different nanomaterials into the silk's biological protein structures." To do this, the team exposed three different spider species to water dispersions containing carbon nanotubes or graphene. After collecting the spiders' silk, the team tested its tensile strength and toughness. It is among the best spun polymer fibres in terms of tensile strength, ultimate strain, and especially toughness, even when compared to synthetic fibres such as Kevlar." "We already know that there are biominerals present in in the protein matrices and hard tissues of insects, which gives them high strength and hardness in their jaws, mandibles and teeth, for example. According to, Professor Pugno said: "Humans have used silkworm silks widely for thousands of years, but recently research has focussed on spider silk, as it has extremely promising mechanical properties. Materials scientist Nicola Pugno and a research team at Italy's University of Trento have succeeded in getting spiders to produce super-strong silk-by lacing the spiders' drinking water with graphene and carbon nanotubes. … The nanotubes adhere uniformly and bond to the silk fiber surface to produce tough, custom-shaped, flexible and electrically conducting fibers after drying and contraction.Some of you will find this exciting. “Spider silk is tough, but becomes soft when exposed to water. “Understanding the compatibility between spider silk and conducting materials is essential to advance the use of spider silk in electronic applications,” Steven wrote in the Nature Communications paper. He was especially interested in materials that could deal with humidity without complicated treatments and chemical additives. Rather than add to the already immense amount of toxic elements and complex, non-biodegradable plastics found in today’s electronic devices and as pollution in our environment, Steven wanted to investigate eco-friendly materials. “It can be used as a humidity sensor, a strain sensor, an actuator (a device that acts as an artificial muscle, for lifting weights and more) and as an electrical wire.” “It turns out that this high-grade, remarkable material has many functions,” Steven said of the silk coated in carbon nanotubes. Steven, now unofficially known as the MagLab’s Spider-Man, has already been interviewed by Discovery News, New Scientist, Materials 360 and The Hindu. The dazzling results have drawn the attention of national media. To adhere the powdery carbon nanotubes to the spider silk, he ultimately discovered that just a drop of water worked best. Keeping with his theme of simplicity, he gathered the spider silk himself, hiking around the MagLab and using a stick to gather webs. Steven wanted to see what would happen when strands of spider silk were coated with carbon nanotubes. Researchers worldwide are intrigued by the properties of carbon nanotubes, including their amazing strength and ability to conduct electricity and heat. Physicists know that when things get that microscopically minute, they act very strange. A nanotube’s diameter is at least 10,000 times smaller than a strand of human hair. Think of a nanotube as a one-atom thick sheet of carbon that’s been rolled into an infinitesimally tiny tube. Steven is the lead investigator on the paper “Carbon nanotubes on a spider silk scaffold.” The experiment may result in practical applications in electrical conductivity and more. “If we can find a smart way to harness it, then we can use it to create a new, cleaner technology.” “If we understand basic science and how nature works, all we need to do is find a way to harness it,” Steven said. ![]() The experiment may result in practical applications in electrical conductivity and more.Įden Steven, a physicist at Florida State University’s MagLab facility, discovered that simple methods can result in surprising and environmentally friendly high-tech outcomes during his experiments with spider silk and carbon nanotubes, the results of which are now published in the online research journal Nature Communications. Eden Steven tested whether his spider silk wires would conduct electricity when bent - they did. ![]()
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