Scientists reveal the secrets of the spider silk

Researchers are assured that this technology completely can be adopted in nature and used with the production of many man-made materials.

In their experiences the professor of engineering the mechanics Garrett Makkinli from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and its student of Nicolas koyich studied the silk of gold krugopryada Nephila clavipes.

This form interested them because cobweb in this krugopryada improbably strong - into it fall the small birds, and fishermen even make from it network.

At that moment, when spider produces thread, it to 30-40% consists of different proteins, and rest - this water. As it described Makkinli, cobweb - surprising invention of nature: although the aqueous solution serves as material for its production, after drying it is converted into not water-soluble fiber.

Researchers focused also attention on the fact that with drying of solution inside the threads the tiny crystal structures, which additionally strengthen cobweb, are formed. Scientists consider that this is the very important special feature, which should be considered with the industrial production of artificial silk. I.e., in it it is simply necessary to add special nanos-particle, and they will make it considerably stronger.

But recently the group of specialists from the university of Oxford under professor Fritz vollrat's management revealed that the process of the formation of silk in spiders in many respects proceeds just as in mulberry silkworms, reports MEMBRANA.

Interestingly not only that that these are completely different essences with the different evolution. Is amazing the fact that the proteins of silk strongly are distinguished, although they possess very similar properties.

Scientists found that the solution, from which these insects create thread, from some parameters is similar to the usual plastic. For example, the researchers focused attention on the fact that with the compression this substance is diluted. This characteristic is necessary in order to pass the solution through the channel, at the output from which, this substance rapidly thickens.

The same property possesses the molten plastic, which was opened even in the 20's of the past century. Therefore it is possible to say that one of the technologies of work with the natural silk in biologists already exists. True, it is unknown, does propose Vollrat any versions of the practical use of its discovery.