Product category:
Particle size analysis equipment
News Release from: Malvern Instruments | Subject: Bohlin Gemini HR
Edited by the Laboratorytalk Editorial
Team on 28 November 2006
Malvern rheometer helps unravel secrets
of silk
Researchers at Oxford University have published work comparing the rheology of spider and silkworm spinning dope - the liquid material from which solid fibres are spun (Nature Materials, Nov 06)
Critical to the success of this work, which ultimately will contribute to the industrial production of silks, was the new Bohlin Gemini HR nano rheometer from Malvern Instruments This system is optimised for the control of ultra-low torques and is ideal for probing sensitive material structures and allowing measurement of low volume samples
This article was originally published on Laboratorytalk on 8 Jun 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Rheometer aids in search for the perfect silk
Using a Bohlin Gemini HR Nano rheometer from Malvern, researchers took unspun natural silk dope and compared it to artificial silk dope under shear forces similar to those in a natural spinning duct
Malvern co-sponsors BSR annual meeting
Malvern Instruments will exhibit the recently introduced Bohlin Gemini HR nano rheometer at the 2006 British Society of Rheology (BSR) annual meeting (11-12 December 2006, Manchester, UK)
Spun fibres, whether natural or man-made, rely on extrusion processes to facilitate molecular orientation and bonding.
The purpose of this ongoing work is to gain a better understanding of the flow characteristics of the native spinning feedstock, with a view to applying this knowledge to artificial fibre production.
Prof Fritz Vollrath who led the research team said: "Silk can outperform most industrial fibres, but spider silk has proved impossible to reproduce.
"Using the Gemini HR nano we discovered that both of the natural dopes we studied behaved like typical polymer melts, indicating that natural silks can be analyzed using the tools developed for commercial polymers.
"We hope ultimately that this will help make possible the industrial production of silks using nature's own way".
The Bohlin Gemini HR nano enables the measurement and control of nano-torque levels.
At the same time it retains a continuous working torque range to 200mNm allowing complete rheological characterisation.
Allied to the most sensitive normal force measurement available, the Gemini HR nano offers the ultimate in instrument capabilities for weakly-structured and low viscosity systems. Request a free brochure from Malvern Instruments ...
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