We studied the mechanical properties of dragline threads of the edible golden silk spider Nephila edulis that are produced under spinning speeds ranging from 0.1 to 400 mm s 71 and temperatures ranging from 5 to 40 8C. These conditions a¡ected the silk in all of the mechanical traits we tested (strain at breaking, breaking energy, initial Young's modulus and point of yielding). We argue that both trade-o¡s (between mechanical properties) and constraints (in the manufacturing process) have a large role in de¢ning spider silk ¢bres.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract