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The variation in elastic properties of limpet teeth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 March 2012

Dun Lu ,
Fei Hang  and
Asa H. Barber
Dun Lu
Affiliation:
Department of Materials, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
Fei Hang
Affiliation:
Department of Materials, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
Asa H. Barber
Affiliation:
Department of Materials, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
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Abstract

Limpet teeth are an example of a biological short fiber reinforced composite material used for a mechanical function. The local micro-scale elastic properties of limpet teeth were examined by bending FIB fabricated beams of the limpet tooth material using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The elastic modulus values for the limpet tooth material varied from 140 GPa at the tooth posterior edge, through 90 GPa at the tooth core to 120 GPa at the tooth anterior edge. This variation in the elastic modulus of limpet tooth material at the posterior, interior and core regions of the tooth is indicative of a mechanically graded structure and is expected to enhance the durability of limpet teeth during rasping over rock surfaces during feeding.

Keywords

biomaterialscanning probe microscopy (SPM)elastic properties
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1420: Symposium OO – Multiscale Mechanics of Hierarchical Materials , 2012 , mrsf11-1420-oo04-07
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

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