Webshooters
Spider-Man's most important pieces of equipment are his webshooters.
Worn on both wrists, they allow him to shoot lines of high-pressure web
fluid. The composition of the fluid itself is unknown, but has many of the
same properties as Nylon. It is contained in web cartridges under high-pressure,
which can be inserted into the shooters. The shear-thinning webbing chemical
is in an almost-solid state, until shearing force is applied to it using
a tiny turbine pump vane. It is then turned into a liquid, driven through
the turbine and out the spineret. This "cold-draws" the webbing,
giving it extraordinary strength. The tensile strength of the webbing is
estimated at 120 pounds per square millimeter. Upon contact with the air,
the webbing molecules knit themselves into long, flexible and adhesive fibers.
The longer Spider-Man's webbing is exposed to the air, the less adhesive
it becomes, although it stays very sticky. After two hours, the chemical
bonds disslove, and turns to powder. The wristcuffs have palm triggers,
made of spring steel, which require 65 pounds of pressure to acitvate. A
small spineret nozzle placed at the base of the wrist can adjust the diameter
of the web from very thin strands to wide web sprays. They are made of high-tensile
steel, and have a single hinge which allows them to be easily removed. The
cuffs have several places where
web cartridges can be inserted.
Webs are an integral part of Spider-Man's fighting strategy, as well as
serving as his mode of transportation,
and a convenient method of detaining subdued criminals. Spider-Man can use
his webbing for a wide
variety of different things. He can make various objects including shields,
concentrated webbing balls which
he uses as projectiles, nets for catching falling people or debris, and
anything else he can think of.
For a more detailed look at Spider-Man's spineret, please see the blow-up
image below.
