Fabric Made from Water Could Be the Ultimate Sustainable Material

University of Cambridge researchers have developed an artificial spider silk – claimed to be tough enough for a host of applications – but “spun” from a material that is 98 percent water.

By Christine Lepisto

They developed a fiber "spun" from a material called hydrogel, that is 98% water. The process developed at the University of Cambridge for making the "super stretchy, strong and sustainable" fiber imitating spider silk could make other textile manufacturing greener too.

Hydrogel consists of about 2% cellulose and silica (both natural materials) suspended in water with some molecules that are shaped like tiny bracelets, called Cucurbiturils(from the word cucurbita which is Latin for gourd, because of their hollow, rounded shape).

These chemicals, described as "barrel-shaped molecular 'handcuffs'" by the team at Cambridge, hold the cellulose and silica together, allowing long, extremely thin fibers to be pulled from the gel.

The water evaporates shortly after the fibers are drawn out of the hydrogel, leaving behind a silken strand that is stronger than cellulose-based viscose, artificial silk, and even some natural fibers such as animal hair. The strings also work like bungee cords, in some cases having a property of energy absorption called "damping capacity" that exceeds natural silks.

But this new fiber is made at room temperature, which means low energy. And the hydrogel is just a watery bath, so the process avoids the toxic solvents.

It is an exciting development, especially for anyone interested in sustainable fashion.

Read full article: Tree Hugger

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• Water Footprint
• Technology
• Sustainability
• Fashion & Clothing
• Materials
• Smart Fabrics