Mussels clinging to rocks
Scientists have derived a new glue from a natural adhesive made by rock-clinging mollusks. It could provide an environmentally friendly alternative to current wood-binding materials. Mussels endure battering waves and can hitch rides on the hulls of ships, becoming an invasive threat to local ecologies. This is not the first time researchers have been attracted to the sticky power of mussels. A real and potentially commercial glue has been created by new research. The secret to the mussels’ staying power is tiny threads, called byssus. These tentacles, which can reach more than two inches in length, are made of a protein with a high level of stuff called phenolic hydroxyls. Possible applications for the mussels-inspired glue are wood composite products like plywood, oriented strand board, particle board, and laminated veneer lumber products. The research group has three patents pending. Interestingly, there is a long history of spinning the mussels’ byssus into fine threads for making cloth. The fabled Golden Fleece from the story of Jason and the Argonauts is believed to have been woven from byssus.