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Lessons From Biology for Materials Scientists

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 February 2011

J. Derek Birchall
J. Derek Birchall*
Affiliation:
Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, U.K
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Abstract

Living organisms make use of inorganic materials such as calcium carbonate and phosphate, silica, iron oxide etc. to construct support structures, protective armour, magnetic devices gravity devices and so on. The structures are remarkably adapted for the duties they have to perform, the adaptation being at all levels from the nanometer to the macroscopic. Microscopic detail is controlled in order that the macroscopic structure forms an efficient functional component of a machine and the structure develops in response to signals from the local environment. The study of these biogenic minerals and the mechanism of their formation can inspire new approaches to the synthesis and design of new materials and to the advantageous modification of old materials. Examples are given in this paper.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 286: Symposium J – Nanophase and Nanocomposite Materials , 1992 , 297
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1993

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References

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