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SUMMARY:Silk - the physics behind the function  - Dr. Peter Laity. Dept. o
 f Materials Science and Engineering\, University of Sheffield
DTSTART:20160421T170000Z
DTEND:20160421T190000Z
UID:TALK65262@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Ismael Moreno-Gomez
DESCRIPTION:Silks are natural\, protein-based fibres\, produced by many ar
 thropods.  The webs produced by spiders are well-known\, exhibiting remark
 able - even legendary - mechanical properties\; fibre from cocoons of the 
 domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori) forms the basis of the silk textile in
 dustry.  Nevertheless\, similar fibres are also produced by many other ins
 ects and myriapoda (centipedes and millipedes).\n\nAlthough the compositio
 n\, production and function of the fibres may differ significantly between
  the various animals\, there is a key characteristic that distinguishes si
 lks from other fibres.  In all cases\, aqueous protein precursors are prep
 ared in special glands within the body\, then rapidly converted to filamen
 ts by extrusion 'on demand'\, under ambient conditions\, for use outside t
 he body.  By comparison\, the various types of hairs are grown continuousl
 y\, but relatively slowly.\n\nThis talk will describe the diverse properti
 es and uses of silks in the natural world and explore the science underlyi
 ng the remarkable behaviour.  The talk will finish with a summary of the w
 ork we are doing in Sheffield to understand this family of remarkable mate
 rials.\n
LOCATION:Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy\, 27 Charles Babba
 ge Road\, Cambridge. CB3 0FS
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