The science of silks

• Published in: MRS bulletin Vol. 38; no. 1; pp. 73 - 80
• Main Authors: Vollrath, F., Porter, D., Holland, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01.01.2013; Springer International Publishing; Materials Research Society; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Ambient temperature; Applied and Technical Physics; Biopolymers; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Energy Materials; Exact sciences and technology; Material properties; Materials Engineering; Materials Science; Melt spinning; Nanotechnology; Physics; Prediction models; Silk; Specific materials; Technical Feature; polymer; fiber; biomaterial; strength; toughness; biomimetic (assembly); Silk; Biomimetics; Biopolymer; Color; Modelling; Ab initio calculations; Spinning; Microstructure; Structural analysis
• ISSN: 0883-7694; 1938-1425
• DOI: 10.1557/mrs.2012.314

Comparative silk research has begun to provide us with valuable insights into a class of biopolymers that have evolved an enormous range of material performance based on highly adapted structure-property interactions. As outlined in this article, such insights cover the analysis of biological and bioinspired spinning technologies, the discovery of a novel type of melt spinning at ambient temperatures, and an advanced predictive modeling framework that uses ab initio calculations. Importantly, the huge diversity and extensive range of material properties found in natural silks is providing a fertile field for discoveries that could change the polymer paradigm and our approach to using proteins as structural materials. For example, highly relevant to both sustainability and engineering properties is the role of water in silk processing and function, as this article will explore in some detail.