Five times stronger than steel and three times stronger than the best modern synthetic fibers, the silk that spiders make is a fascinating material. Capable of stretching up to 135% of its original length without breaking, scientists study its properties in order to give it the most incredible uses. For example, mixed with zinc, titanium or aluminum, could be useful to create super resistant fabrics, in addition to surgical material or artificial tissues for bones, tendons and artery walls. Now, a Japanese scientist has given a twist to the possibilities of this natural product. He has used thousands of strands of spider silk to create violin strings.. Apparently, with this curious material the instrument sounds with a "soft and deep" timbre, as published in the journal Physical Review Letters.
Según Shigeyoshi Osaki, from Nara Medical University, in Japan, the different sound that comes out of spider web strings has to do with the way that material has been twisted, in such a way that there is no free space between the strands, as reported by the BBC. this scientist, great connoisseur of the mechanical properties of spider silk, has perfected methods of obtaining large amounts of this silk from captive-bred spiders. Specific, works with 300 Nephila maculata females, a species known for weaving very complex fabrics.
To make each string, Osaki twisted between 3.000 Y 5.000 individual strands of silk in one direction to form a bundle. The cords were then prepared with three of those bundles twisted together in the opposite direction.. After, its tensile strength was measured, to avoid breaking the chain in the middle of a concert.
spider silk strings, strong and elastic, Withstood less tension before breaking than a traditional gut string, but more than that of an aluminum coated nylon rope. Osaki assures that these particular strings are distinguished by their strength and their unique tone., capable of creating «a new music». The researcher believes that his research may represent a further step in the development of new types of materials.
