Class
Article
College
College of Science
Department
English Department
Faculty Mentor
Justin A Jones
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
Hagfish are ancient animals that eject a strong slime when attacked by predators. The slime that the hagfish emit is composed of protein strands that cause it to have incredible strength. To defend against foes, the Navy launches plastic ropes into the propellers of enemy warships in order to decrease the thrust of the motors. In a push to find a more biodegradable solution, the utilization of hagfish slime has shown greatpromise in stopping propellers.We hope to understand how this remarkable biomaterial withstands the impact of a sharp and quickly rotating propeller, while simultaneously reducing the thrust of the propeller. What specific mechanical properties allow for this phenomena? From this research we can maximize the capabilities of this incredible biomaterial by testing it in various conditions.The core application of this project is the eventual implementation of the synthetic hagfish slime into the Navy’s arsenal. Beyond this, however, the protein threads may also be useful in medical applications.
Location
Logan, UT
Start Date
4-9-2022 12:00 AM
Included in
Synthetic Hagfish Slime: Mechanical Characterization
Logan, UT
Hagfish are ancient animals that eject a strong slime when attacked by predators. The slime that the hagfish emit is composed of protein strands that cause it to have incredible strength. To defend against foes, the Navy launches plastic ropes into the propellers of enemy warships in order to decrease the thrust of the motors. In a push to find a more biodegradable solution, the utilization of hagfish slime has shown greatpromise in stopping propellers.We hope to understand how this remarkable biomaterial withstands the impact of a sharp and quickly rotating propeller, while simultaneously reducing the thrust of the propeller. What specific mechanical properties allow for this phenomena? From this research we can maximize the capabilities of this incredible biomaterial by testing it in various conditions.The core application of this project is the eventual implementation of the synthetic hagfish slime into the Navy’s arsenal. Beyond this, however, the protein threads may also be useful in medical applications.