Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-dfsvx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T00:43:08.125Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An Electron Microscopy Study of the Microstructure and Microarchitecture of the Strombus Gigas Shell

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2011

V.J. Laraia ,
M. Aindow  and
A.H. Heuer
V.J. Laraia
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, University Circle, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
M. Aindow
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, University Circle, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
A.H. Heuer
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, University Circle, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
Get access

Abstract

A scanning and transmission electron microscopy study is presented of the microstructure of the Strombus gigas shell. The heirarchical nature of this crossed-lamellar structure and the defect content of the mineral component are described. This mineral component consists of small single crystal grains of aragonite, the metastable orthorhombic polymorph of CaCO3. The habit and morphology of the grains discussed here have not been determined previously. The observed habit and defect structure suggest that the organic matrix exerts a high degree of control over the crystal growth of the mineral phase and is responsible for the long range order in the microarchitecture. Electron beam heating of the mineral component leads to certain phase changes and these are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 174: Symposium R – Materials Synthesis Utilizing Biological Processes , 1989 , 117
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

[1] Taylor, J.D. and Layman, M., Paleontology 15, 73 (1972).Google Scholar
[2] Currey, J.D. and Kohn, A.J., J. Mater. Sci. 11, 1615 (1976).Google Scholar
[3] Laraia, V.J. and Heuer, A.H., these proceedings.Google Scholar
[4] Bøggild, O.B., Vidensk, K. danske Selsk. Skr. Copenhagen 2, 232 (1930).Google Scholar
[5] Lowenstam, H.A. and Weiner, S., On Biomineralization, (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1989) p.29.Google Scholar
[6] Kennedy, W.J., Taylor, J.D. and Hall, A., Biol. Rev 44, 499 (1969).Google Scholar
[7] Bevelander, G. and Nakahara, H., The Mechanisms of Biomineralization in Animals and Plants, Ed. M., Omori and N., Watanabe, (Tokae Univ. Press, Tokyo, 1980) p. 19.Google Scholar
[8] Cahn, R.W., Adv. Phys. 3, 363 (1954).Google Scholar
[9] Hails, J.E., Russell, G.J., Brown, P.D., Brinkham, A.W. and Woods, J., J. Crystal Growth 86, 516 (1988).Google Scholar
[10] Stowell, M.J., in Epitaxial Growth, Ed. J.W., Matthews, (Academic Press, New York, 1975) p.458.Google Scholar
[11] Bragg, W.L., Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. A105, 16 (1924).Google Scholar
[12] Uozumi, S., Iwata, K. and Togo, Y., Journal of The Faculty of Science Hokkaido University, Series VI, Geology and Mineralogy, XV 447 (1972).Google Scholar
[13] Weiner, S., Calcif. Tissue Int. 29, 163 (1979).Google Scholar
[14] Burrage, J. and Pitkethly, D.R., Phys. Stat. Sol. 32 399 (1969).Google Scholar
[15] Hiragi, Y., Kachi, S., Takada, T. and Nakanishi, N., Bull. Chem. Soc. Japan 39, 2361 (1966).Google Scholar