About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Biological Materials Science
|
| Presentation Title |
Charting the envelope of mechanical properties of synthetic silk fibers through predictive modeling
|
| Author(s) |
Sinan Keten |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Sinan Keten |
| Abstract Scope |
A major challenge in synthesizing strong and tough protein fibers based on spider silk motifs is understanding process-sequence coupling. We clarify how drawing-induced elongational force impacts ordering, chain extension, interchain contacts, and molecular mobility through mesoscale simulations of silk-based fibers. We predict mechanical property enhancements arising from post-spin drawing. Simulations recapitulate a purely process-dependent mechanical property envelope in which order enhances fiber strength while preserving toughness. The relationship between chain extension and crystalline domain alignment observed in simulations is validated by Raman spectroscopy of wet-spun fibers. Property enhancements attributed to the progression of anisotropic extension are verified by mechanical tests of drawn silk fibers and justified by theory. Analysis of sequence effects further clarify how hydrophobic domain length influences crystal size, connectivity, and emergent mechanical properties. These findings elucidate the sequence and process effects on the properties of protein-based fibers. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Biomaterials, Computational Materials Science & Engineering, Mechanical Properties |