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Engineering Properties of Spider Silk

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 March 2011

Frank K. Ko,
Sueo Kawabata,
Mari Inoue,
Masako Niwa,
Stephen Fossey and
John W. Song
Frank K. Ko
Affiliation:
Fibrous Materials Research Center, Department of Materials Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Sueo Kawabata
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Sciences, University of Shiga Prefecture, Shiga, Japan
Mari Inoue
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Sciences, University of Shiga Prefecture, Shiga, Japan
Masako Niwa
Affiliation:
Nara Women University, Nara, Japan
Stephen Fossey
Affiliation:
US. Army Natick Research and Development, Engineering Center, Natick, MA., USA
John W. Song
Affiliation:
US. Army Natick Research and Development, Engineering Center, Natick, MA., USA
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Abstract

Motivated by the high level of strength and toughness of spider silk and its multifunctional nature, this paper reports on the engineering properties of individual fibers from Nephila Clavipes spider drag line under uniaxial tension, transverse compression and torsional deformation. The tensile properties were compared to the Argiope Aurentia spider silk and show different ultimate strength but similar traits of the unusual combination of strength and toughness characterized by a sigmoidal stress-strain curve. A high level of torsional stability is demonstrated. comparing favorably to other aramid fibers (including Kevlar fibers).

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References

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