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Silk as a Biomimetic Ideal for Structural Polymers
Author(s) -
Porter David,
Vollrath Fritz
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.200801332
Subject(s) - materials science , polymer science , toughness , elastomer , nanoscopic scale , silk , crystallinity , polymer , toughening , folding (dsp implementation) , composite material , nanotechnology , mechanical engineering , engineering
Two factors are critical for understanding silks : the nanoscale semicrystalline folding structure, which gives high strength and toughness, and the degree of hydration of the disordered fraction, which modifies these material properties. The combination of these two factors allows for a massive range of mechanical properties. Understanding and controlling these two factors are the key to the functionality of protein elastomers.