Greco, Gabriele
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
Comparative studies of silk mechanical properties often highlight spider silk as superior to silkworm silk, but such claims are frequently based on inconsistent methodologies and limited species selection. This study revisits the comparison by emphasising the importance of accurate fibre cross-sectional area measurements, particularly given the irregular geometry of many silkworm silks. By correcting for overestimated cross-sectional areas, which were often assumed to be circular, we show that spider and silkworm silks exhibit comparable mechanical properties. The highest-performing natural silk in our dataset is not from a spider but from a bagworm. Additionally, we apply the theoretical framework based on fracture mechanics proposed by Porter, demonstrating that fibre strength scales with Young's modulus and inversely with diameter, in line with Griffith-Irwin fracture theory. This scaling holds for both natural and synthetic fibres, suggesting a universal failure mechanism. Our findings advocate for broader consideration of non-model silks and a more physics-informed approach to understanding silk mechanics.
Keywords
Tensile testing; Cross section; Method; Toughness; Diameter; Fracture mechanics
Published in
Materials & Design
2025, volume: 260, article number: 115224
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI LTD
SLU Authors
UKÄ Subject classification
Paper, Pulp and Fiber Technology
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2025.115224
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/145534