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Mechanical Properties of Biological Nanocomposite Nacre: Multiscale Modeling and Experiments on Nacre from Red Abalone

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

Pijush Ghosh ,
Devendra Verma ,
Bedabibhas Mohanty ,
Kalpana S Katti  and
Dinesh R Katti
Pijush Ghosh
Affiliation:
[email protected], North Dakota State University, Civil Engineering, United States
Devendra Verma
Affiliation:
[email protected], North Dakota State University, Civil Engineering, United States
Bedabibhas Mohanty
Affiliation:
[email protected], North Dakota State University, Civil Engineering, United States
Kalpana S Katti
Affiliation:
[email protected], North Dakota State University, Civil Engineering, United States
Dinesh R Katti
Affiliation:
[email protected], North Dakota State University, Civil Engineering, United States
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Abstract

Nacre, the inner iridescent layer of mollusks shell is a bio-nanocomposite with the mineral aragonite as a major constituent and 2-5% of organics mainly in the form of proteins. Our multiscale modeling and experimental studies reveal that the microstructure and the small weight percent of organics are the key parameters attributed to the extreme toughness of nacre. We report that the presence of platelet interlocks nacre have a significant role in the enhancement of mechanical properties. Molecular simulation study is conducted to understand the behavior of aragonite-organic interface. The mechanical behavior of organics and inorganics in presence of each other is described using steered molecular dynamics simulations. This provides some understanding on the deformation mechanisms of the protein present between the aragonite layers. Our nanoindentation results indicate that the elastic modulus and hardness of nacre decreases as it is exposed to a denaturing temperature for proteins. The changes in the organic inorganic interaction have been experimentally described using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. This work gives insight into the contribution of the various factors existing at different length scales on the overall mechanical behavior of nacre.

Keywords

biologicalcompositenanostructure
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 898: Symposium L – Mechanical Behavior of Biological and Biomimetic Materials , 2005 , 0898-L02-03
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006

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