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Transmission electron microscopy observation of nanoscale deformation structures in nacre

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Taro Sumitomo ,
Hideki Kakisawa ,
Yusuke Owaki  and
Yutaka Kagawa
Taro Sumitomo*
Affiliation:
National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan
Hideki Kakisawa
Affiliation:
National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan
Yusuke Owaki
Affiliation:
Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan
Yutaka Kagawa
Affiliation:
Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: sumitomo.taro@nims.go.jp
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Abstract

The mechanical performance of nacre in seashells is generally described in terms of mesoscale mechanisms between mineral plates within the organic polymer matrix. However, recent work has reported nanostructures and organic material within individual plates and associated deformation mechanisms. In this work, we further investigated the nanoscale structure and mechanical behavior within individual plates of nacre by using two methods to induce fracture of plates: microindentation with focused ion beam preparation and ultramicrotomy. Using transmission electron microscopy, we observed deformation nanostructures and organic matrix within plates and identified nanoscale mechanisms, such as separation, shear, and matrix crack bridging.

Keywords

BiomaterialNanostructureTransmission electron microscopy (TEM)
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 23 , Issue 12: Biomimetic and Bio-enabled Materials Science and Engineering , December 2008 , pp. 3213 - 3221
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

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