Biomimetics. Design and Processing of Materials.
Abstract
Structural biological materials are all composites. The basic structural units include elastomers, strong polymers, and reinforcing minerals. These components are mixed in various proportions and with various architectures to produce a wide range of mechanical properties. Combinations of hardness with toughness and of softness with strength can give rise to mechanical responses which seem to be superior to the equivalent synthetic materials. The superior sophistication is easily seen by a comparison between micrographs of the complex morphology of bone or shell and of the equivalent ceramics or filled polymers. It is less easy to prove a superiority of properties since the component materials of bone, collagen, and hydroxyapatite cannot be regarded as high performance materials when compared to carbon fiber and polyimide. We therefore must make comparisons on a basis which allows for the different starting properties of the component materials. Assuming that we can convince ourselves of a performance improvement which arises from the material architecture we should consider how to develop synthetic materials with equivalent microstructures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA309485
Entities
People
- Ilhan A. Aksay
- Mehmet Sarikaya
Organizations
- University of Washington