Nanoscale morphology and indentation of individual nacre tablets from the gastropod mollusc <em>Trochus niloticus</em>

Bruet, B. J. F.; Qi, H .J.; Boyce, M. C.; Panas, R.; Tai, K.; Frick, L.; Ortiz, C.

Affiliations

¹Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139

²Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139

Abstract

The inner nacreous layer of gastropod mollusc Trochus niloticus is composed of ∼95 wt% planar arrays of polygonal aragonite-based tablets (∼8 μm wide, ∼0.9 μm thick, stacked ∼40 nm apart) and ∼5 wt% biomacromolecules. High-resolution tapping mode atomic force microscope images enabled nanoscale resolution of fractured tablet cross-sections, the organic component, and deformation of individual nanoasperities on top of tablet surfaces. Nanoindentation was performed on individual nacre tablets and the elastic modulus E and yield stress σy were reduced from elastic-plastic finite element simulations yielding E = 92 GPa, σ_y = 11 GPa (freshly cleaved samples) and E = 79 GPa, σ_y = 9 GPa (artificial seawater soaked samples). Images of the indents revealed extensive plastic deformation with a clear residual indent and surrounding pileup.

Links

DOI: 10.1557/JMR.2005.0273

WoS: 000231648900024

History

Received: 2005-01-27

Accepted: 2005-05-02

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