Silk tougher than Kevlar thanks to genetically modified silkworms

Technology@lemmy.world – 384 points – 1 years ago

Silk tougher than Kevlar thanks to genetically modified silkworms::Researchers in China have successfully genetically modified silkworms to produce spider silk. The silk fibres produced were 6 times tougher than the Kevlar used in bulletproof vests.

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For anyone else that isn't an engineer and also doesn't know, toughness is a defined term in material science.

Toughness is the ability of a material to absorb energy and plastically deform without fracturing. One definition of material toughness is the amount of energy per unit volume that a material can absorb before rupturing. It is also defined as a material's resistance to fracture when stressed.

Sounds like it'd work better than kevlar for armor.

I thought the article was being lazy by saying "tougher" but TIL that's the scientific term.

A lot of great terms in material science.

Brittle fracture is the point at which a material breaks instead of deforming. A material that deforms instead of breaking with stress, like bubble gum, has high "Ductility." It doesnt retain its original shape, but it doesnt fracture.

Strength is the ability for something to withstand stress.

Metal generally has high hardness, good strength and at least some ductility. It will generally absorb and bend to stress, if it bends at all.

Something like Glass has low ductility, low strength and low hardness. It's very solid up to the point of brittle fracture, but once it happens it shatters.

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