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New Insight into the Toughening Mechanisms of Nacre

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Mechanics of Biological Systems and Materials, Volume 5

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Abstract

Many living organisms form biogenic minerals, or biominerals, which are composite materials containing an organic matrix and nano- or micro-scale minerals assembled in a hierarchical architecture. These biogenic composites possess excellent mechanical properties in comparison to their abiogenic architectures (on the order of 3,000 times greater), which make them attractive for mechanically protective applications. One biogenic material that has garnered a lot of attention is Nacre, or “Mother of Pearl,” found in many Mollusk shells. The Nacre architecture has been well studied the past decade, however little work has focused on the fact that the Nacre composite is also itself a component of another composite architecture in the shells. In between thick layers of Nacre is a thin layer of an organic matrix that marks the seasonal growth patterns of the shells, analogous to tree rings. No work has focused on how these two layers interact to determine mechanical properties, which are likely as important as the tablet sliding itself. Determining this relationship would have a great impact on designing composite architectures that can improve the performance of mechanically protective armor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA

    Marianne Sullivan & Barton C. Prorok

Authors
  1. Marianne Sullivan
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  2. Barton C. Prorok
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Correspondence to Barton C. Prorok .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Auburn University, Alabama, Auburn, 36849-5341, USA

    Barton C. Prorok

  2. McGill University, Montreal, H4B 2R3, Canada

    François Barthelat

  3. State University of New York, State University of New York, Stony Brook, 11794, USA

    Chad S. Korach

  4. Rice University, Houston, 77251-1892, USA

    K. Jane Grande-Allen

  5. Auburn University, Auburn, 36849-5127, USA

    Elizabeth Lipke

  6. University of Connecticut, Storrs, 06269-3088, USA

    George Lykofatitits

  7. Purdue University, West Lafayette, 47907-2051, USA

    Pablo Zavattieri

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Sullivan, M., Prorok, B.C. (2013). New Insight into the Toughening Mechanisms of Nacre. In: Prorok, B., et al. Mechanics of Biological Systems and Materials, Volume 5. Conference Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics Series. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4427-5_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4427-5_6

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-4426-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-4427-5

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