Abstract
Elastic moduli were determined from the stress–strain curves of draglines secreted from Nephila clavata spiders (Japanese golden-web spiders) collected at different stages of growth. In order to accurately determine the elastic modulus it was necessary to measure the cross sectional area of the same dragline consisting of double filaments used for measuring the stress–strain curves. The elastic modulus was determined to be ca. 10 GPa for spiders weighing less than 50 mg, ca. 13 GPa for spiders weighing between 50 and 800 mg, and ca. 10 GPa for old spiders weighing more than 800 mg. The relatively small values of ca. 10 GPa for the elastic modulus may come from the relatively large cross sectional area of the draglines for spiders weighing less than 50 mg and from the small value of the elastic limit strength for spiders weighing more than 800 mg. It was found that the elastic modulus of spider’s draglines consisting of almost amorphous protein molecules was relatively large in comparison with the elastic modulus of several GPa obtained for amorphous synthetic polymers.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
R. W. Work and N. Morosoff, Text. Res. J., 46, 349 (1982).
S. Osaki, Acta Arachnologica, 37, 69 (1989).
S. Osaki, Acta Arachnologica, 38, 21 (1989).
S. Osaki, Acta Arachnologica, 43, 1 (1994).
S. Osaki, Acta Arachnologica, 46, 1 (1997).
S. Osaki, Nature, 347, 132 (1990).
A. H. Simmons, C. A. Michal, and L. W. Jelinski, Science, 271, 84 (1996).
Y. Termonia, Macromolecules, 27, 7378 (1994).
P. M. Cunniff, S. A. Fossey, M. A. Auerbach, and J. W. Song, “Silk Polymers”, American Chemical Society, Washington, D. C., 1995, p 234.
J. C. Zemlin, U. S. Army Natick Laboratories, Natick MA, Technical Report TR 69-29-CM (AD 684333), 1968.
A. M. Becker, D. V. Mahoney, P. G. Lenhert, R. K. Eby, D. Kaplan, and W. W. Adams, “Silk Polymers”, American Chemical Society, Washington, D. C., 1995, p 185.
S. Osaki, Journal of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Japan, 43, 828 (1985).
S. Osaki, Nature, 384, 419 (1996).
S. Osaki, Int. J. Biol. Macromol., 24, 283 (1999).
S. Osaki, presented at 2000 International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies, Macro-7, No.897, Hawaii, 2000.
J. Prescott, “Applied Elasticity”, Dover Pub., Inc., New York, N.Y., 1924, p 13.
S. Osaki, “Polymer Preprints, Japan”, 1999, vol. 48, no. 4, p 842.
K. Nakamae, T. Nishino, K. Hata, and T. Matsumoto, Kobunshi Ronbunshu, 42, 211 (1985).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Osaki, S., Ishikawa, R. Determination of Elastic Modulus of Spider’s Silks. Polym J 34, 25–29 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1295/polymj.34.25
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1295/polymj.34.25
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
The effects of seasonal changes on the molecular weight of Nephila clavata spider silk
Polymer Journal (2016)
-
Molecular weight of Nephila clavata spider silk
Polymer Journal (2015)
-
Effects of UV irradiation on the molecular weight of spider silk
Polymer Journal (2013)
-
Spiders' mechanical lifelines provide a key for the study of trust in the quality of materials
Polymer Journal (2011)