Natural silks match many of the properties of high-performance synthetic polymers, yet are processed under significantly milder conditions. High strength, stiffness and impact resistance are achieved in a polymer that is precipitated from an aqueous solution at room temperature. Preliminary studies have already established that a variety of natural silk secretions form liquid crystalline phases en route to solidifying. This study will develop a link between the solution properties of proteins and liquid crystalline polymer technology through a multidisciplinary examination of the molecular and microstructural changes that accompany the spinning of silk fiber.
