Mechanical Properties of Hagfish Protein Hydrogels

Authors

Hayden Johns, Utah State UniversityFollow

Files

Description

Hagfish are ancient animals that eject a strong slime when attacked by predators. This slime is composed of intermediate filaments that contribute to its incredible strength.To defend against foes, the Navy launches plastic ropes into the propellors of enemy warships in order to decrease the thrust of motors. In an effort to find a more biodegradable solution, the utilization of hagfish slime has shown great promise in stopping propellors.We hope to understand how the slime withstands the impact of a quickly rotating propellor, while simultaneously reducing the propellor's thrust. What specific mechanical properties allow for this phenomena? From this research we can maximize the capabilities of this novel and versatile biomaterial.

Publication Date

12-5-2022

City

Logan, UT

Keywords

hagfish, mechanical properties, protein hydrogels, slime

Disciplines

Life Sciences

Recommended Citation

Johns, Hayden, "Mechanical Properties of Hagfish Protein Hydrogels" (2022). Fall Student Research Symposium 2022. 48.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/fsrs2022/48