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Biomimetic model of a sponge-spicular optical fiber—mechanical properties and structure

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

M. Sarikaya*
Affiliation:
Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
H. Fong
Affiliation:
Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
N. Sunderland
Affiliation:
Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
B. D. Flinn
Affiliation:
Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
G. Mayer
Affiliation:
Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
A. Mescher
Affiliation:
Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
E. Gaino
Affiliation:
Instituto di Zoologia dell'Universita di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mial: sarikaya@u.washington.edu
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Abstract

Nanomechanical properties, nanohardness and elastic modulus, of an Antarctic sponge Rosella racovitzea were determined by using a vertical indentation system attached to an atomic force microscope. The Rosella spicules, known to have optical waveguide properties, are 10–20 cm long with a circular cross section of diameter 200–600 μm. The spicules are composed of 2–10-μm-thick layers of siliceous material that has no detectable crystallinity. Measurements through the thickness of the spicules indicated uniform properties regardless of layering. Both the elastic modulus and nanohardness values of the spicules are about half of that of either fused silica or commercial glass optical fibers. The fracture strength and fracture energy of the spicules, determined by 3-point bend tests, are several times those of silica rods of similar diameter. These sponge spicules are highly flexible and tough possibly because of their layered structure and hydrated nature of the silica. The spicules offer bioinspired lessons for potential biomimetic design of optical fibers with long-term durability that could potentially be fabricated at room temperature in aqueous solutions.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2001

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