: I just found this link to a PowerPoint presentation on Silk Fiber
: Composites:
:
: http://www.mtm.kuleuven.be/Research/C2/poly/research/efc/silk_fibre_composites_sampe06.ppt.

: It compares the material properties of silk fabric to other natural
: fibers (jute, helm, cotton, etc) to E-glass, carbon and Kevlar.
: In a nut-shell, silkworm (B. mori) silk has 1/2 the density and
: tensile strength of E-glass. The Young's modulus of elasticity
: is about 1/5 that of e-glass as well. It does have phenomenal
: elongation at failure: 18-20% versus 2.5 for E-glass. Silk has
: excellent impact resistance and toughness. The interface is
: fairly weak but still bonds well to epoxy. Best application
: looks to be impact prone consumer products: like the hull of a
: wooden kayak or SOF skin. Maybe part of a bi-layer system
: laminated to Dacron?

: I guess others HAVE looked at it. Neat...

: =D

Hmm, wonder who this was directed towards .

Interesting idea, might be worth testing.

Bill H.