Spider
Silk:
There
are currently over 34,000 described species of spider, each with a specific
tool-kit of silks with different mechanical properties serving specific
purposes. Silk is found to be at least five times as strong as steel, twice as
elastic as nylon, waterproof and stretchable. The silk could also be woven into
strong textiles to make parachutes, body amour, ropes and fishing nets.
Biotechnologists
are currently analyzing the properties of silk proteins and how they assemble
into threads. Knowing exactly how silk fibers are formed and what mechanical
properties result from different assembly processes could allow the manufacture
of artificial spider silks with special characteristics such as great strength
or biochemical activity. The future objective might not be to prepare identical
copies of natural silk fibers, but rather to capture key structural and
functional features in designs that could be useful for engineering
applications.
In
recent studies parts of the genes were successfully inserted into the bacterium
E. coli, mammal and insect cells, which in turn produced silk proteins.
MU-silk
treatment:
Researchers
have developed a new treatment, called "MU-silk", that can give
silkiness to a variety of different textiles.
The
MU-silk treatment, uses calcium ions as a cross linking agent to chemically
bond the silk fibroin to the textile. This means that the silk fibroin will not
peel off regardless of the number of times laundered and that silk's unique
hand, along with its water and moisture absorption properties, will be
maintained. In addition, the calcium used as the cross linking agent serves an
anti-static function and the plant extract contained in the NIC solution
results in antibacterial properties.
With
MU-silk, silk-like hand and properties can be produced-on natural fibers
including cotton, rayon and wool and synthetic fibers including nylon,
polyester and acryl.
The
main component of MU-silk is silk protein, while secondary components include
ionized calcium and a derivative of animal and vegetable oil. The result is a
finishing agent that is kind to the skin.
Since
the silk protein is chemically bonded to the textile using calcium ions as a
cross linking agent, no binder is required. The result is a treatment resistant
to laundering that maintains silk's unique hand and water and moisture
absorption properties.
Conclusion:
For world to be globalised, technology has played a
very important role. But unmanaged utilization of available resources has made
tremendous stress on the globe earth. Hence it is very important that human
being as the intellectual animal on the earth should make most used of
available technology like that of information technology and bio- technology to
earn maximum profits.
To
read more articles on Textile, Industry, Technical Textile, Dyes & Chemicals, Machinery, Fashion, Apparel, Technology, Retail, Leather, Footwear & Jewellery,
Software and General please
visit http://articles.fibre2fashion.com
To promote your company, product and services via promotional article, follow
this link: http://www.fibre2fashion.com/services/article-writing-service/content-promotion-services.asp
