Dr Peter Laity from the Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, will deliver a talk entitled 'Silk - the physics behind the function'

Silks are natural, protein-based fibres, produced by many arthropods. The webs produced by spiders are well-known, exhibiting remarkable - even legendary - mechanical properties; fibre from cocoons of the domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori) forms the basis of the silk textile industry. Nevertheless, similar fibres are also produced by many other insects and myriapoda (centipedes and millipedes).

Although the composition, production and function of the fibres may differ significantly between the various animals, there is a key characteristic that distinguishes silks from other fibres. In all cases, aqueous protein precursors are prepared in special glands within the body, then rapidly converted to filaments by extrusion 'on demand', under ambient conditions, for use outside the body. By comparison, the various types of hairs are grown continuously, but relatively slowly.

This talk will describe the diverse properties and uses of silks in the natural world and explore the science underlying the remarkable behaviour. The talk will finish with a summary of the work being done at Sheffield to understand this family of remarkable materials.

Date: Thursday 21 April 2016

Time: Light refreshments from 6:00pm. The presentation will commence at 6:30 pm.

Venue: Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, 27 Charles Babbage Road, Cambridge CB3 0FS [on West Cambridge site].

Further information available from Ismael Moreno-Gomez (im380@cam.ac.uk) or Geoff Hale (geoffrey.hale@ntlworld.com 01223 842403)

These talks are open to anyone with an interest in the topic. Please forward these details to other contacts who may be interested.

A poster to advertise this event can be downloaded here.

This talk is organised by the Cambridge and Anglian Materials Society.