Researchers from Tufts University, Imperial College
London, and the University of Michigan have developed a
new method to transform silk into a strong and durable solid
material while preserving the natural structure of silk fibres.
The process avoids the use of synthetic additives and energy
intensive chemical treatments, resulting in a material that
approaches the toughness of Kevlar and performs better than
natural materials such as wood and bone.
The research, published in Nature Sustainability, introduces a
simpler manufacturing process that keeps the original silk
fiber structure intact. Traditional silk processing methods
usually dissolve silk fibers into proteins before reshaping
them into new materials.
The development could create new opportunities for industries
looking for renewable alternatives to petroleum-based composite materials. Due to its strength, lightweight
properties, and bio-based origin, the material may be suitable
for applications in mobility, consumer goods, protective
equipment, and lightweight structural products.
The research team also discovered that fused silk has unique
optical properties. The material is transparent to visible light
and can polarise terahertz radiation, which could make it
useful for medical imaging, sensing technologies, and future
6G communication systems.
According to the researchers, these properties could support
future medical applications such as regenerative implants and
orthopaedic fixation devices used for bone fractures. The
study highlights how natural fibres can be engineered into
advanced materials that combine high performance with
sustainability.