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could this be used to make woven tanks for hydrogen storage?

by gwill 3y ago

chris_va 3y ago
Actually woven, or fiber reinforced composite? Regardless, s-2 glass fiber is probably a better choice
- krasin 3y ago
  > Regardless, s-2 glass fiber is probably a better choice I would appreciate if you can elaborate on that. Not being a material scientist, it's not obvious to me which option is a better choice here, but I am curious to learn.
  - zardo 3y ago
    Material "strength" is often misunderstood in popular science articles. Spider dragline silk is notable for it's high strength for a stretchy material. These two properties are typically a trade-off. This means that it can absorb a lot of energy before breaking. Great for sutures, climbing ropes, stopping bullets. For a pressure vessel you want high strength and you don't want it to stretch. So the unique property of spider silk is wasted in the application and it's outperformed by conventional non-stretchy fibers. If you want a basic understanding, read up on and understand the difference between compressive and tensile yield and ultimate strength (and the specific variations that account for density), toughness, modulus of elasticity, and hardness.
kylebenzle 3y ago
Yes, for $1,000,000,000/bottle. I imagine silk harvesting is already a difficult process, it being the most expensive natural fabric. Then add the step of doing it all in a laboratory environment, the increased regulation and scrutiny. Thats all assume that the technology to make bottle out of silk already exists, if not of course that technology would have to be developed.
- millerhooks 3y ago
  They just collect the cocoons of the caterpillar. It’s already pretty industrialized. Farmers grow mulberry bushes and feed the worms and collect the pods. This would be no different. Just a slightly different worm. People do it as a hobby at home and scaling it is a known process already scaled.
- sethammons 3y ago
  You realize you can buy silk at Walmart, yeah? Just a new breed of worm for super-silk.

could this be used to make woven tanks for hydrogen storage?

by gwill 3y ago

could this be used to make woven tanks for hydrogen storage?

chris_va 3y ago

Actually woven, or fiber reinforced composite? Regardless, s-2 glass fiber is probably a better choice

krasin 3y ago
> Regardless, s-2 glass fiber is probably a better choice I would appreciate if you can elaborate on that. Not being a material scientist, it's not obvious to me which option is a better choice here, but I am curious to learn.
- zardo 3y ago
  Material "strength" is often misunderstood in popular science articles. Spider dragline silk is notable for it's high strength for a stretchy material. These two properties are typically a trade-off. This means that it can absorb a lot of energy before breaking. Great for sutures, climbing ropes, stopping bullets. For a pressure vessel you want high strength and you don't want it to stretch. So the unique property of spider silk is wasted in the application and it's outperformed by conventional non-stretchy fibers. If you want a basic understanding, read up on and understand the difference between compressive and tensile yield and ultimate strength (and the specific variations that account for density), toughness, modulus of elasticity, and hardness.

kylebenzle 3y ago

Yes, for $1,000,000,000/bottle. I imagine silk harvesting is already a difficult process, it being the most expensive natural fabric. Then add the step of doing it all in a laboratory environment, the increased regulation and scrutiny. Thats all assume that the technology to make bottle out of silk already exists, if not of course that technology would have to be developed.

millerhooks 3y ago
They just collect the cocoons of the caterpillar. It’s already pretty industrialized. Farmers grow mulberry bushes and feed the worms and collect the pods. This would be no different. Just a slightly different worm. People do it as a hobby at home and scaling it is a known process already scaled.
sethammons 3y ago
You realize you can buy silk at Walmart, yeah? Just a new breed of worm for super-silk.