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Spiders, feeding on graphene, weave the strongest web

11.09.2017

The web is already strong enough to hold small insects that have fallen into it, but thanks to the discovery of scientists in the future, it may be able to withstand the weight of a person.

Nicola Pugno and other scientists from Trent University (Italy) conducted a study during which graphene and carbon nanotubes were added to the drinking water of spiders.

When the test spiders weaved the web, as they always did, it turned out to be five times stronger than normal - and can be compared with carbon fiber and Kevlar, the strongest materials on Earth.

Punyo noted that scientists already knew about the biominerals present in the protein matrices and hard tissues of insects, which provide great strength and durability to their mandibles (upper jaws) and teeth; thus, researchers were more interested in whether it is possible to artificially improve the quality of spider silk by introducing various nanomaterials into its protein structures.

So far, these are only the first steps in the study of webs woven by spiders using graphene and nanotubes, and Punyo's results should be rechecked. It is noted that if they are confirmed, such an improved web can be used, for example, for the manufacture of ropes, cables, etc.

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