5 ms·
Last I heard they were having problems with the stability of the silk produced. Apparently it would start to break down within a month or two, losing all of it'
by aarongough 17y ago
Last I heard they were having problems with the stability of the silk produced. Apparently it would start to break down within a month or two, losing all of it's unique tensile properties in the process...
I had a quick look around but couldn't find anything to back that up. The applications they mention on this page http://www.nexiabiotech.com/en/01_tech/01.php http://www.nexiabiotech.com/en/01_tech/01.php talk a few times about how 'biodegradable' the silk is though...
- ars 17y agoBiodegradable spider silk is pretty useless. You would want to use it for things like suspension bridges, bullet proof vests, high tension electrical lines. Space tethers even maybe. Things that are not disposable. I have a hard time thinking of a disposable application for a fiber that is stronger than steel. Unless it was really really cheap.
- aarongough 17y agoOn their website one of the first applications they listed was for sutures in eye surgery. Apparently the high initial tensile strength and biodegradability make it perfect for that. I agree though that most of the interesting (and widespread) uses require a material that is not biodegradable. I would love to have a spider-silk ballistic/stab vest... That would be a very cool piece of kit...
- GiraffeNecktie 17y agoLooks like the thing didn't pan out for Nexia. IP has been sold for a percentage of future royalties. http://www.baystreet.ca/users/newswire/viewarticle.aspx?id=74791 http://www.baystreet.ca/users/newswire/viewarticle.aspx?id=7... If only they'd learned how to make it shoot out an infinite stream of web from little nozzles in the palm of your hands...