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So, for those that don't remember what "regular" spider silk is like, or kevlar:

  nanomagic spider silk:   5400 MPa (5.4 GPa)
  Spider silk:             1600 MPa
  Silkworm silk:            500 MPa
  Aramid
   (Kevlar or Twaron):     3620 MPa
  Steel:                    450 ~
                           2600 MPa
If I'm reading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_tensile_strength correctly (and comparing the right numbers with the ones from the article...). At least kevlar seem to be in the same ballpark.


Interestingly the spider silk of 5.4 GPa has higher tensile strength than the specimens of "pure" carbon nanotubes of 2cm measured in labs at 3.6 GPa. The theoretical limit of cabon nanotubes is said to be at 300 GPa, and it's assumed that materials with about 130 GPa of tensile strength would be needed for the "rope" of an space elevator.


Can a human actually break such a tiny web?


According to wikipedia, the diameter of natural spider silk is 4µm, which is a cross section area of 1.26e-11 m². Multiplied by the tensile strength of natural spider silk (5.4 GPa) gives the capacity to lift 68 milinewtoms, or 7 Grams!

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=%284e-6+meter+%2F+2%29%...


It's only ~4x stronger than regular spider silk, so I'm going to say yes.


Thanks. Those numbers were sorely missing from the article.




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