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Nanocomposite Yields Strong and Stretchy Fibers

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 19, 2007 -- Creating artificial substances that are both stretchy and strong has long been an elusive engineering goal. Inspired by spider silk, researchers have now devised a way to produce a material that begins to mimic this combination of strength and elasticity. Such materials, known as polymeric nanocomposites, could be used to strengthen and toughen packaging materials and develop tear-resistant fabrics or biomedical devices. Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Gareth McKinley, graduate student Shawna Liff and postdoctoral researcher Nitin Kumar worked at MIT's Institute for...Read full article

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    Published: January 2007
    Glossary
    nano
    An SI prefix meaning one billionth (10-9). Nano can also be used to indicate the study of atoms, molecules and other structures and particles on the nanometer scale. Nano-optics (also referred to as nanophotonics), for example, is the study of how light and light-matter interactions behave on the nanometer scale. See nanophotonics.
    photonics
    The technology of generating and harnessing light and other forms of radiant energy whose quantum unit is the photon. The science includes light emission, transmission, deflection, amplification and detection by optical components and instruments, lasers and other light sources, fiber optics, electro-optical instrumentation, related hardware and electronics, and sophisticated systems. The range of applications of photonics extends from energy generation to detection to communications and...
    polymer
    Polymers are large molecules composed of repeating structural units called monomers. These monomers are chemically bonded together to form long chains or networks, creating a macromolecular structure. The process of linking monomers together is known as polymerization. Polymers can be classified into several categories based on their structure, properties, and mode of synthesis. Some common types of polymers include: Synthetic polymers: These are human-made polymers produced through...
    biocompatiblebiomedical deviceBiophotonicsclaycrystallinecrystalsdefensefiber opticsKumarLiffMcKinleyMicroscopyMITmolecularnanonanocompositeNews & FeaturesphotonicspolymerSilk

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