Coatings to make spider silks non-sticky?

[sferrin]

Explosions aren't as much of an issue at these tiny quantities (and if handled properly). Inhalation risks (especially if processing is involved), light weight and durability are what I'd focus on.

There are pros and cons for most things, so for warnings and warning labels, too.
I think, those points were exensively discussed now and the tone is starting to be
... interesting, to say the least.
Perhaps we could come back to the original topic, which was about sticky spider silk,
do you remember ?

Thanks - it is funny how most times I raise the subject of flying miniature kites using spider silk people respond with extensive discussions of the mandate of safety review boards - and which member of the conversation is most able to be trusted with nuclear armaments...

Just using the words "flying" and "spider" in the same sentence should be enough to put you on the NSA's watch list.

 

[Orionblamblam]

Just using the words "flying" and "spider" in the same sentence should be enough to put you on the NSA's watch list.

If you want a flying spider, that would be "ballooning." Some Wiki nightmare sauce:

A spider (usually limited to individuals of a small species), or spiderling after hatching,[3] will climb as high as it can, stand on raised legs with its abdomen pointed upwards ("tiptoeing"),[4] and then release several silk threads from its spinnerets into the air. These automatically form a triangular shaped parachute[5] which carries the spider away on updrafts of winds where even the slightest of breezes will disperse the animals.[4][5] The Earth's static electric field may also provide lift in windless conditions.[6]

Of course, if you're really having trouble staying awake, do a Google image search on Flying Spider. Lots of exciting photoshops of winged spiders to help make your nightmares more colorful.

In a vain attempt at thread relevance, it seems likely that the silk from a "ballooning" spider would be non-sticky. A sticky thread would be counterproductive... bits of dust and whatnot would stick and weight the system down. So, if'n ya want non-sticky spidersilk but don't want to mess with chemical... just go somewhere where the air is filled with tiny little eight legged deathmonsters. Try to not inhale to many of them!

 

[Jemiba]

Just using the words "flying" and "spider" in the same sentence should be enough to put you on the NSA's watch list.

Probably we all are there anyway !

But thanks to coming back to topic again ! BTW, last year the Technical University of Munich
published, that they succeeded in producing artificial spider silk: https://www.tum.de/die-tum/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/kurz/article/30514/

 

[sferrin]

Just using the words "flying" and "spider" in the same sentence should be enough to put you on the NSA's watch list.

If you want a flying spider, that would be "ballooning." Some Wiki nightmare sauce:

A spider (usually limited to individuals of a small species), or spiderling after hatching,[3] will climb as high as it can, stand on raised legs with its abdomen pointed upwards ("tiptoeing"),[4] and then release several silk threads from its spinnerets into the air. These automatically form a triangular shaped parachute[5] which carries the spider away on updrafts of winds where even the slightest of breezes will disperse the animals.[4][5] The Earth's static electric field may also provide lift in windless conditions.[6]

Of course, if you're really having trouble staying awake, do a Google image search on Flying Spider. Lots of exciting photoshops of winged spiders to help make your nightmares more colorful.

In a vain attempt at thread relevance, it seems likely that the silk from a "ballooning" spider would be non-sticky. A sticky thread would be counterproductive... bits of dust and whatnot would stick and weight the system down. So, if'n ya want non-sticky spidersilk but don't want to mess with chemical... just go somewhere where the air is filled with tiny little eight legged deathmonsters. Try to not inhale to many of them!

One more OT: there's always the "parachute spider". (Aerboreal tarantula of the poecilotheria line. Not known for docility.) A tarantula that lived in trees, eats birds, and is called the "parachute spider".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poecilotheria_metallica