Nanomaterials
Dec 7, 2015
Materials scientists learn how mother of pearl is made
Mother nature has a lot to teach us about how to make things.
Search results for nacre
Materials Science
Oct 20, 2015
Mother-of-pearl's genesis identified in mineral's transformation
How nature makes its biominerals—things like teeth, bone and seashells—is a playbook scientists have long been trying to read.
Materials Science
Sep 27, 2015
Biomimetic dental prosthesis
There are few tougher, more durable structures in nature than teeth or seashells. The secret of these materials lies in their unique fine structure: they are composed of different layers in which numerous micro-platelets ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 15, 2015
Researchers find proof that oysters turn pearls as part of development process
(Phys.org)—A team of researchers with members affiliated with institutions in French Polynesia, France and Qatar has finally proved that pearls do spin inside of oysters as they develop. In their paper published in Royal ...
Materials Science
Jun 22, 2015
Hydrogen bonds in the polymer phase boost important properties of nacre mimetics
Nacre, or mother of pearl, has highly attractive mechanical properties but cannot be processed into larger-scale structures. Synthetic nanocomposites can mimic the characteristic brick-and-mortar-like structure of nacre, ...
Materials Science
May 22, 2015
The seashell-inspired material inspiring a new wave of safety gear in sport
The risk of injury in professional sport has been a central feature in recent debates about how well protected our stars are. Only recently, Argentine football player Emanuel Ortega died of a fatal head injury after hitting ...
General Physics
May 19, 2015
Seashell strength inspires stress tests
Mollusks got it right. They have soft innards, but their complex exteriors are engineered to protect them in harsh conditions. Engineers at the Indian Institute of Science and Rice University are beginning to understand why.
Nanomaterials
Mar 16, 2015
Materials theory combines strength, stiffness and toughness of composites into a single design map
Mother-of-pearl, the iridescent layer in the shells of some mollusks, inspired a Rice University study that will help scientists and engineers judge the ultimate strength, stiffness and toughness of composite materials for ...
Materials Science
Mar 13, 2015
Biotech materials made simple—crystal structures altered by a single protein
In nacre, layer lattices of inorganic calcium carbonate alternate with layers of organic material. Chitin, collagen and various proteins ensure that the calcium carbonate grows in these defined layers. What role the proteins ...
Nanomaterials
Jan 22, 2015
Transparent artificial nacre: A brick wall at the nanoscale
Natural materials have extraordinary mechanical properties, which are based on sophisticated arrangements and combinations of multiple building blocks. One key aspect of today's materials research therefore is to develop ...
