• DOI:10.1038/340305A0
Corpus ID: 4355740

Modulation of the mechanical properties of spider silk by coating with water

@article{Vollrath1989ModulationOT,
  title={Modulation of the mechanical properties of spider silk by coating with water},
  author={F. Vollrath and D. Edmonds},
  journal={Nature},
  year={1989},
  volume={340},
  pages={305-307}
}

F. Vollrath, D. Edmonds

Published 1989

Materials Science

Nature

THE orb web of the garden cross spider Araneus diadetnatus is made up of two types of thread with distinctive mechanical properties: stiff radial threads which sag when contracted by only 10%, and elastic circumferential 'capture' threads which can be contracted to less than 5% of their original length in the web without sagging1-5. Everyday silk is stiff, but can be plasticized by water6-9. It is known that capture threads are coated with a thin layer of aqueous glue10-12, and the question… CONTINUE READING

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