Spider web nano-machine could spin new packaging opportunities

摘要

Electrospinning, an emerging technology that forms a mat of fine fibres, could deliver new packaging materials - potentially produced from waste streams - for bakers and snacks makers, reports FoodProductionDaily.com.rnWith its roots in electrostatic spraying, electrospinning basically uses a high-voltage electrical charge to draw very fine fibres, typically on a micro or nano scale, from polymer substances like proteins and cellulose.rnResearchers at New Zealand's Crop & Food Research body, inspired by the intricate way a spider spins its web to produce tough, lightweight composite materials that have a greater tensile strength than steel of the same diameter, have been testing the potential of electrospun proteins and polysaccharides as industrial raw materials.