Designing Novel Materials Inspired By Hagfish Predator Defense
Abstract
This award tasks the performer in the development of synthetic slime, mimicking the properties of hagfish slime. The team will investigate the structural mechanics of hagfish slime and then leverage what they learn to develop a synthetic version packaged in artificial thread skeins. The thread skeins are the most complex structural component of the natural slime known to contribute to the unique volume expansion property. The proposers plan to utilize various methods, including laser sheet scanning (1-mm resolution) and confocal microscopy (1-µm resolution) to carefully decipher the 3D structural mechanics of the natural slime at different length scales. Additive manufacturing approaches will be used to arrange the thread skeins to mimic the rope flaking techniques used by mountaineers and boaters to organize ropes to avoid entanglement; an innovative approach.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 03, 2022
- Source ID
- N660012124036
Entities
People
- Douglas S Fudge
Organizations
- Chapman University
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
- Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific