A Natural Approach To Tomorrow’s High Performance Fibers: Hagfish Slime Fibers

Abstract

Hagfishes, also known as ‘hyperotreti’, release a mucus-like slime from their glands located on their body when they feel threatened. This slime contains fibers that are one of the toughest fibers known to date. Those fibers are approximately 15 cm long and 1-3 μm in width and have superior properties to most of natural and synthetic fibers. Hagfish slime fibers differ with their structural features from other natural protein fibers which contain α-keratin such as wool and hair. With a high breaking strength, these fibers also exhibit considerably good elongation. The hagfish slime fibers are not commercially manufactured yet while research is still in progress.

Keywords

• Hagfish slime fiber
• Hagfish
• Hyperotreti
• High performance fiber
• Natural protein fiber
• Regenerated protein fiber

Yarının Yüksek Performanslı Liflerine Doğal Bir Yaklaşım: Balık Asalağı Salgısı Lifleri

Abstract

‘Hiperotreti’ olarak da bilinen balık asalakları kendilerini tehlike altında hissettiklerinde vücutları üzerinde bulunan salgı bezlerinden mukusa benzer bir sıvı salgılar. Bu salgı içerisinde bulunan lifler bugüne dek bilinen en tok liflerden biridir. Yaklaşık 15 cm uzunluğunda ve ortalama 1-3 μm çapında olan bu lifler birçok doğal ve sentetik liften daha üstün özelliklere sahiptir. Balık asalağı salgısı lifleri yapısal özellikleri ile yün ve saç gibi α-keratin içeren diğer doğal protein liflerinden ayrılmaktadır. Kopma mukavemeti de yüksek olan balık asalağı salgısı lifleri oldukça iyi bir esneme kabiliyetine sahiptir. Henüz ticari olarak üretilemeyen bu lifler üzerinde araştırmalar halen devam etmektedir.

Keywords

• Balık asalağı salgısı lifi
• Balık asalağı
• Hiperotreti
• Yüksek performanslı lif
• Doğal protein lifi

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