Spider silk, known for its extraordinary strength and versatility, has become a subject of intense interest due to its remarkable mechanical properties. It surpasses carbon fiber in weight, is five times stronger than steel, and exhibits three times the toughness of Kevlar. However, a significant drawback has been the inability to obtain natural spider silk in quantities sufficient for practical applications.
To address this limitation, Tekholding has developed an innovative production method using microbial engineering and fermentation production, allowing for the generation of multi-kilogram quantities of spider silk. This breakthrough solution could provide new source of renewable material to also strengthen diverse existing material such glass fiber composites, potentially leading to lighter and more durable materials for military vehicles, armor, and aerospace structures.