Posted on Jun 30, 2023
How a Wash U research team is using spider silk to combat plastic waste
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Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis are producing nature-inspired materials that can replace petroleum-based products and decrease plastic waste.
How a Wash U research team is using spider silk to combat plastic waste
Posted from news.stlpublicradio.orgPosted in these groups: 
Research
Technology
Research Technology
Posted 11 mo ago
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Do they understand how long it takes a spider to spin a single strand? PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
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PO3 Justin Bowen
I'm guessing they do, which is probably why they're using engineered bacteria to do the job of producing engineered fibers within solutions.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."The new material
The new research has investigated the potential use of a biodegradable and renewable polymer, such as soy protein, to make a new material that could be an alternative to other plant-based plastics.
The researchers created a plant-based plastic and added nanoparticles—particles smaller than one millionth of a meter. This meant they could control the structure of the material to create flexible films, with a material that looks like spider silk on a molecular level. They've called it a "vegan spider silk."
The team used various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy to study the structure of the film.
They analyzed important properties, such as barrier properties and moisture absorption. They found the nanoparticles helped to increase the various properties—strength and long-term durability and stability—significantly.
By creating a plastic with a more environmentally friendly manufacturing process, made from sustainable materials itself, a significant amount of energy can be saved. This is one of the most exciting parts of this study.
This new material could help solve some of the problems that plastic pollution has caused to the environment—by introducing a material from renewable source with enhanced properties suitable for many engineering applications, including packaging.
The study could help to scale up the production of sustainable packaging materials, using natural resources and less energy consumption, while reducing the amount of plastic going into landfill."
..."The new material
The new research has investigated the potential use of a biodegradable and renewable polymer, such as soy protein, to make a new material that could be an alternative to other plant-based plastics.
The researchers created a plant-based plastic and added nanoparticles—particles smaller than one millionth of a meter. This meant they could control the structure of the material to create flexible films, with a material that looks like spider silk on a molecular level. They've called it a "vegan spider silk."
The team used various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy to study the structure of the film.
They analyzed important properties, such as barrier properties and moisture absorption. They found the nanoparticles helped to increase the various properties—strength and long-term durability and stability—significantly.
By creating a plastic with a more environmentally friendly manufacturing process, made from sustainable materials itself, a significant amount of energy can be saved. This is one of the most exciting parts of this study.
This new material could help solve some of the problems that plastic pollution has caused to the environment—by introducing a material from renewable source with enhanced properties suitable for many engineering applications, including packaging.
The study could help to scale up the production of sustainable packaging materials, using natural resources and less energy consumption, while reducing the amount of plastic going into landfill."
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