1.
Adv Mater
; 28(32): 6835-44, 2016 Aug.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27238289
ABSTRACT
A fibrous herringbone-modified helicoidal architecture is identified within the exocuticle of an impact-resistant crustacean appendage. This previously unreported composite microstructure, which features highly textured apatite mineral templated by an alpha-chitin matrix, provides enhanced stress redistribution and energy absorption over the traditional helicoidal design under compressive loading. Nanoscale toughening mechanisms are also identified using high-load nanoindentation and in situ transmission electron microscopy picoindentation.