title: Predicting the mechanical properties of spider silk as a model nanostructured polymer.
abstract: Spider silk is attractive because it is strong and tough. Moreover, an enormous range of mechanical properties can be achieved with only small changes in chemical structure. Our research shows that the full range of thermo-mechanical properties of silk fibres can be predicted from mean field theory for polymers in terms of chemical composition and the degree of order in the polymer structure. Thus, we can demonstrate an inherent simplicity at a macromolecular level in the design principles of natural materials. This surprising observation allows in depth comparison of natural with man-made materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK. DPORTER@qinetiq.com
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vollrath
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004548:Elasticity; D008956:Models, Chemical; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D047011:Silk / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D013112:Spiders / Q000378:metabolism*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013696:Temperature; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D047011:Silk
references.citation: Nature. 2002 Aug 15;418(6899):741
references.pmid: 12181556
references.citation: J Biotechnol. 2000 Aug;74(2):67-83
references.pmid: 11763504
references.citation: Proc Biol Sci. 2001 Nov 22;268(1483):2339-46
references.pmid: 11703874
references.citation: Nature. 2003 Nov 13;426(6963):141-6
references.pmid: 14614496
references.citation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Aug 6;99(16):10266-71
references.pmid: 12149440
references.citation: Micron. 2002;33(4):365-84
references.pmid: 11814876
references.citation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1990 Sep;87(18):7120-4
references.pmid: 2402494
references.citation: Science. 2002 Jan 18;295(5554):472-6
references.pmid: 11799236