Spider silk capture threads

As shown earlier, orb weavers like the garden spider Araneus or the golden silk spider Nephila coat the capture threads with an aqueous solution that forms sticky droplets. Coat and droplets are crucial for the function of these capture threads as their elasticity derives largely from the high water content of the coat. However, water is important not only for these threads, but for many other types of thread as well, and the role of water as well as other solvents for understanding and manipulating the mechanical properties of spider silk caimot be understated (Fig. 8.9). This can be of special interest if we aim to produce bio-engineered silks with specific properties. 

The mechanical behaviour of radial and capture silks differs greatly. For example, the wet and soft sticky spiral of the Araneus diadematus garden spider absorbs energy by large extendibility circa 500%) of the wetted thread which develops substantial force only after 100-200% extension with... 

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