Javier Gomez Fernandez

"“Shrilk” is a bioinspired material based on the chemistry and molecular design of the insect cuticle. Shrilk is transparent, biodegradable, and has an ultimate strength in the same range as aluminum alloys, but at half their density. It is made of silk proteins and waste material from the fishing industry (i.e. chitin). Shrilk is the first example of an outstanding material based on the association of natural components with their molecular design in natural structures, and it started a groundbreaking new approach to develop sustainable and bioinspired materials. It is considered, with graphene and metamaterials, one of the material that could change the world."