Wanted: The World's Strongest Microfiber

Check out for KEVLAR or ARAMID POLYMER based fibrous filaments.

Thanks, I have tried but I cant get a source that supplies them in a bundle diameter of less than 30 micrometers. I have also tried UHMWPE but again they come in larger diameter bundles.

Hi "2Tinker",

Thank you for your detailed and thought provoking response. I hadnt really considered drawing and orienting the fibres myself. As you describe it, I can clearly see how you would use temperature and draw force to get both size and strength optimised. It may be a real option if I get a base material that has the potential to deliver the strength I need.

I have already tried oriented PET fibres in diameters of 25 microns but it just doesnt have the strength. I have assumed that PET can achieve higher tensile strengths than Nylon and havent focused on Nylon because of this. Neither material is capable of strengths above 1GPa. If there is a grade of nylon that is a lot stronger than this when oriented then that may be interesting? I have assumed Nylon 11 to be the best in the family due to its ability to store orientations. They are widely used in angioplasty ballons (which are bi-axially oriented) for this reason.

My first step is to identify a material grade that has the potential. I may then circle back to you and take you up on your offer for some leads on the processing.

Thanks,

Eamon

Hi 2tinker,

GA to you Sir!

Take care.

Have a look at Spiderwire Fishing line...

What is the length of filament you require?

Hi Greg, I want a continuous fibre. It will be braided or knitted and the free end has to fit through a hole of 30 microns.

Eamon

Hi Eamon,

Is there any chance you can tell us what this fibre is for? Are you making a pair of gloves for a shrew or perhaps even a 'tootsie' warmer for a spider?

Have you thought of looking into sutures? I do not know if they have anything small and strong enough for you.

But then, I do not know and cannot think why you would or could use such tiny 'thread', which equates to ~5 human hairs thick?

Take care

I am using them as part of a device for treating patients with stroke. The device actually enters the brain through a tiny blood vessel. This is why the fibre needs to be very strong and very small.

Eamon

Hi Eamon,

I really appreciate your reply post to me thank you!

Is there a name for the procedure you do or plan?

Good luck.

We are still in development at this point... so I cant disclose much more :-)

Eamon

Hi Eamon,

No problems Eamon. What was the silk you were looking at, can you tell me that? Perhaps I have more time than you to find a supplier. Does it matter which Country the supplier is in?

Take care

Hi Babybear,

The silk was suggested by another responder to the forum thread. It is called Dragline Silk from Nephila Clavipes (a type of spider!). This fibre is interesting in that its tensile strenght is 2.9GPa (which would be great). However, it doesnt look like anyone has converted it into a commercially available fibre.

My preferred fibres for the application (at this moment) are UHMWPE or an Aramid if I could get them in the right sizes. However, I have not been able to find a supplier of high tenslie UHMWPE fibres that will make a bundle that is as small as I need. Obviously I am open to new material suggestions.

I have ruled out PET fibres and thermoplastic Nylon fibres as even in a highly oriented state, they just are not strong enough. Likewise with PEEK and PEN fibres.

The country of origin doesnt really matter provided the company has a defined process and a quality system.

Eamon

"...I cannot think why you would use such tiny 'thread', which equates to ≈5 human hairs thick...?"

Are you equating yourself to a human, and stating that YOUR hairs are only about 6 microns in diameter?

http://hypertextbook.com/facts/1999/BrianLey.shtml

Silly bear !

30 microns is about 1/5 the diameter of an average human hair, and about 1/8th the diameter of a rch.

Hi Eamon,

you may find these helpful:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&hs=QCL&num=20&ei=dywjS5LnLdPLjAfZ6-jPBw&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&ved=0CAgQBSgA&q=super+hi-tensile+microfiber+greater+than+2000+MPa&spell=1

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&hs=yT0&num=20&ei=uSsjS-_yCaqhjAedluDgBw&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&ved=0CAYQBSgA&q=worlds+strongest+microfiber+greater+than+2000+MPa&spell=1

Hope this helps. Good luck. Can you tell me what you want this for please?

You have requested is strong and small. If those are your only requirements, I suggest you consider dragline silk from Nephila clavipes which is considerably smaller than 30 microns and has a tensile strength of about 2.9 Gpa. A pencil diameter bundle of this fiber is strong enough to stop a large jet airliner in mid flight.

At 2.9GPa the tensile strength is certainly adequate. Having followed your lead I found a number of scientific articles on this silk fibre but no commercial supplier. Is it something that is commercially available?

Eamon

I am not aware of any commercial sources of spider silk. When the US military needed black widow silk for gun reticles, they had to develop their own sources. Spiders are not social animals and no one has figured out how to manage a spider farm. The diameter of dragline silk appears to be about 2-4 microns and is biocompatable. If it looks like a potential solution to your problem, I would seek out the entomology department at a university.