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Morphology, fibrous composition and tensile properties of drag-silk produced by two species of orb spider

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Published/Copyright: May 14, 2013
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International Journal of Materials Research
From the journal International Journal of Materials Research Volume 102 Issue 10

Abstract

Silk fibers produced by the orb spiders Argiope amoena and Nephila clavata were examined using scanning electron microscopy. The fibers were produced on a horizontal surface by unanesthetized spiders. The fibers have different morphologies, physical structures, and fibrous compositions broadly consisting of one to four filaments and numerous fibrilliform filaments with varying diameters. The fibers are composed of a wide range of different silk fibrils (e. g. major and minor ampullate or other gland silk). We examined a range of silks produced by orb spiders. The spiders produce different silks for purposes such as web mooring, web radial threads, scaffolding anchoring silk of egg cases. In addition fiber deposited when moving towards prey enmeshed in the web, fiber deposited when returning to the web center, and fiber used to hang vertically downwards from a branch are all different. The studies indicate that these two species of orb spider can spin fibers of diverse complex structures constructed from fibrils from different glands that vary in number, diameter, morphology, and conformation depending on application. We interpret the variation in the silk produced by relating it to the required tensile properties, a biological cost–benefit principle, and the functional requirements for different natural environments and applications.

Keywords: Spider silk; Morphology; Fibrous composition; Tensile strength
* Correspondence address Ping Jiang, College of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University Ji'an, Jia ngxi 343009, China, Tel.: +86 13 879 686 023Fax: +86 07 968 100 493E-mail:

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Received: 2010-6-12
Accepted: 2011-8-16
Published Online: 2013-05-14
Published in Print: 2011-10-01

© 2011, Carl Hanser Verlag, München

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Contents
  2. Contents
  3. Editorial
  4. Laudatio für Frau Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christina Berger
  5. Review
  6. Role of microalloying elements in the microstructure of hot rolled steels
  7. Original Contributions
  8. Experimental study of phase equilibria in the “SnO2” – CaO – SiO2 system in air
  9. Thermodynamic modeling of the Cr – S system
  10. Observation of early melting stages of an Al – Cu alloy in a temperature gradient
  11. Knudsen effusion mass spectrometric studies of the B2 phase in the Al – Co system
  12. Microstructure evolution in hypereutectoid graphitic steel
  13. The effect of thermal treatment on the structural properties of copper-containing sol-gel silica nanocomposites
  14. Electrospray deposition of thin copper-indium-diselenide films
  15. Morphology, fibrous composition and tensile properties of drag-silk produced by two species of orb spider
  16. Magnetic properties of Co0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanopowders prepared by means of the template-assisted hydrothermal method
  17. Effects of aging and sheet thickness on the room temperature deformation behavior and in-plane anisotropy of cold rolled and solution treated Nimonic C-263 alloy sheet
  18. Thermal expansion/contraction behavior of AA7050 alloy in the as-cast condition relevant to thermomechanical simulation of residual thermal stresses
  19. Obtaining high formability of IF-galvanized steel tailor welded blanks by applying optimum CO2 laser welding parameters
  20. Investigation of the dependence of structural and mechanical properties of cement-bonded bauxite refractories on their process conditions
  21. The effects of curing medium on the flexural strength and water permeability of cementitious composites containing Fe2O3 nanofillers
  22. DGM News
  23. DGM News
https://doi.org/10.3139/146.110584
Keywords for this article
Spider silk; Morphology; Fibrous composition; Tensile strength

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Contents
  2. Contents
  3. Editorial
  4. Laudatio für Frau Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christina Berger
  5. Review
  6. Role of microalloying elements in the microstructure of hot rolled steels
  7. Original Contributions
  8. Experimental study of phase equilibria in the “SnO2” – CaO – SiO2 system in air
  9. Thermodynamic modeling of the Cr – S system
  10. Observation of early melting stages of an Al – Cu alloy in a temperature gradient
  11. Knudsen effusion mass spectrometric studies of the B2 phase in the Al – Co system
  12. Microstructure evolution in hypereutectoid graphitic steel
  13. The effect of thermal treatment on the structural properties of copper-containing sol-gel silica nanocomposites
  14. Electrospray deposition of thin copper-indium-diselenide films
  15. Morphology, fibrous composition and tensile properties of drag-silk produced by two species of orb spider
  16. Magnetic properties of Co0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanopowders prepared by means of the template-assisted hydrothermal method
  17. Effects of aging and sheet thickness on the room temperature deformation behavior and in-plane anisotropy of cold rolled and solution treated Nimonic C-263 alloy sheet
  18. Thermal expansion/contraction behavior of AA7050 alloy in the as-cast condition relevant to thermomechanical simulation of residual thermal stresses
  19. Obtaining high formability of IF-galvanized steel tailor welded blanks by applying optimum CO2 laser welding parameters
  20. Investigation of the dependence of structural and mechanical properties of cement-bonded bauxite refractories on their process conditions
  21. The effects of curing medium on the flexural strength and water permeability of cementitious composites containing Fe2O3 nanofillers
  22. DGM News
  23. DGM News
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