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Bionic spider silk: Researchers have developed a super strong “biocomposite” with the potential to revolutionize numerous industries

October 02, 2017 - biocomposite silk threads. The strongest silk threads had a fracture strength of up to 5.4 GPa, over 3 times as strong as the unmodified silks, as well as a tenfold increase of toughness modulus up to 2.1 GPa.

The research team believes that this enhanced strength can be used in applications as diverse as the reinforcement of parachutes and improving the strength of medical dressings. (Related: Discover other amazing scientific breakthroughs at Scientific.news.)

"Humans ...

Silk fibers may become the secret ingredient in the next round of high tech natural “metamaterials”

May 29, 2018 - biocomposite” with the potential to revolutionize numerous industries.)

He added: “Our findings could open up largely unexplored opportunities for engineering, energy, and biomedical areas. However, while direct applications could be possible, we want to learn from silk to help develop material synthesis and design processes in the future.”

Kim stated that their findings have “several implications and direct applications.” One is for imaging, wherein silk could ...

Wood and web: Scientists develop wood nanofibers that could soon replace plastic

September 05, 2020 -

Fortunately, however, researchers from Aalto University have unveiled a tantalizing – and potentially sustainable – alternative: composite bioplastics made out of spider silk and wood fibers.

As detailed in the journal Science Advances, the researchers created the biocomposite by first breaking down birch wood pulp in order to make tiny microscopic cellulose fibers, which they then aligned to make a stiff scaffold-like structure.

According to Pezhman ...