Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 18 November 2005:
Vol. 310. no. 5751, pp. 1144 - 1147
DOI: 10.1126/science.1116994
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Review

Rigid Biological Systems as Models for Synthetic Composites

George Mayer

Advances that have been made in understanding the mechanisms underlying the mechanical behavior of a number of biological materials (namely mollusk shells and sponge spicules) are discussed here. Attempts at biomimicry of the structure of a nacreous layer of a mollusk shell have shown reasonable success. However, they have revealed additional issues that must be addressed if new synthetic composite materials that are based on natural systems are to be constructed. Some of the important advantages and limitations of copying from nature are also described here.

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Roberts Hall 335, Box 352120, Seattle, WA 98195–2120, USA.

E-mail: gmayer{at}u.washington.edu

Read the Full Text


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
A novel biomimetic approach to the design of high-performance ceramic-metal composites.
M. E. Launey, E. Munch, D. H. Alsem, E. Saiz, A. P. Tomsia, and R. O. Ritchie (2009)
J R Soc Interface
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Amorphous calcium carbonate in the shell material of the brachiopod Megerlia truncata.
E. Griesshaber, K. Kelm, A. Sehrbrock, W. Mader, J. Mutterlose, U. Brand, and W. W. Schmahl (2009)
European Journal of Mineralogy 21, 715-723
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Biomimetic design of materials and biomaterials inspired by the structure of nacre.
G. M Luz and J. F Mano (2009)
Phil Trans R Soc A 367, 1587-1605
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Calcite morphology, texture and hardness in the distinct layers of rhynchonelliform brachiopod shells.
A. J. Goetz, E. Griesshaber, R. D. Neuser, C. Luter, M. Huhner, E. Harper, and W. W. Schmahl (2009)
European Journal of Mineralogy 21, 303-315
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Tough, Bio-Inspired Hybrid Materials.
E. Munch, M. E. Launey, D. H. Alsem, E. Saiz, A. P. Tomsia, and R. O. Ritchie (2008)
Science 322, 1516-1520
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Bioinspired Design and Assembly of Platelet Reinforced Polymer Films.
L. J. Bonderer, A. R. Studart, and L. J. Gauckler (2008)
Science 319, 1069-1073
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Identification of a silicatein(-related) protease in the giant spicules of the deep-sea hexactinellid Monorhaphis chuni.
W. E. G. Muller, A. Boreiko, U. Schlossmacher, X. Wang, C. Eckert, K. Kropf, J. Li, and H. C. Schroder (2008)
J. Exp. Biol. 211, 300-309
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Biomimetics for next generation materials.
F. Barthelat (2007)
Phil Trans R Soc A 365, 2907-2919
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Freezing as a Path to Build Complex Composites.
S. Deville, E. Saiz, R. K. Nalla, and A. P. Tomsia (2006)
Science 311, 515-518
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)