Mechanical properties of nacre constituents and their impact on mechanical performance

Barthelat, François; Li, Chun-Ming; Comi, Claudia; Espinosa, Horacio D.

Affiliations

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208-3111

Abstract and keywords

The mechanical properties of nacre constituents from red abalone were investigated. Electron microscopy studies revealed that the tablets are composed of single-crystal aragonite with nanograin inclusions. Both nanoasperities and aragonite bridges are present within the interfaces between the tablets. By means of nanoindentation and axial compression tests, we identified single tablet elastic and inelastic properties. The elastic properties are very similar to those of single-crystal aragonite. However, their strength is higher than previously reported values for aragonite. A finite element model of the interface accounting for nanoasperities and the identified properties revealed that the nanoasperities are strong enough to withstand climbing and resist tablet sliding, at least over the initial stages of deformation. Furthermore, it was observed that the model over-predicts strength and under-predicts ductility. Therefore, we conclude that other interface features must be responsible for the enhanced performance of nacre over its constituents.

Keywords: Biological; Composite; Elastic properties

Links

DOI: 10.1557/jmr.2006.0239

WoS: 000239674800013

History

Received: 2005-07-18

Accepted: 2006-02-23

Online: 2006-08

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Cited By (17)

Year	Entry
2012	Sunab J, Bhushan B. Hierarchical structure and mechanical properties of nacre: a review. RSC Adv. 2012;2(20):7617-7632.
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2010	Dubey DK, Tomar V. Role of molecular level interfacial forces in hard biomaterial mechanics: a review. Ann Biomed Eng. June 2010;38(6):2040-2055.
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2006	Barthelat F, Li C-M, Comi C, Espinosa HD. Mechanical properties of nacre constituents and their impact on mechanical performance. J Mater Sci. 2006;21(8):1977-1986.
2011	Rim JE, Zavattieri P, Juster A, Espinosa HD. Dimensional analysis and parametric studies for designing artificial nacre. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater. February 2011;4(2):190-211.
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2010	Campbell SE. Nanoindentation of Bio- and Geo-Mineralized Composites: Contribution of Microstructure and Composition [PhD thesis]. University of Colorado; 2010.
2008	Lin AY-M. Structural and Functional Biological Materials: Abalone Nacre, Sharp Materials, and Abalone Foot Adhesion [PhD thesis]. San Siego, CA: University of California San Diego; 2008.
2019	Jung J-Y. Learning from Nature: An Investigation of an Impact-Resistant System on the Woodpecker Head as a Non-Traumatic Brain Injury Animal Model [PhD thesis]. San Siego, CA: University of California San Diego; 2019.
2020	Maghsoudi-Ganjeh M. Computational Investigation of Ultrastructural Behavior of Bone and Bone-Inspired Materials [PhD thesis]. San Antionio, TX: University of Texas at San Antonio; May 2020.