A Sinusoidally Architected Helicoidal Biocomposite

Nicholas A Yaraghi; Nicolás Guarín-Zapata; Lessa K Grunenfelder; Eric Hintsala; Sanjit Bhowmick; Jon M Hiller; Mark Betts; Edward L Principe; Jae-Young Jung; Leigh Sheppard; Richard Wuhrer; Joanna McKittrick; Pablo D Zavattieri; David Kisailus

doi:10.1002/adma.201600786

A Sinusoidally Architected Helicoidal Biocomposite

Adv Mater. 2016 Aug;28(32):6835-44. doi: 10.1002/adma.201600786. Epub 2016 May 30.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.
² Lyles School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
³ Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.
⁴ Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
⁵ Hysitron Inc, Minneapolis, MN, 55344, USA.
⁶ TESCAN USA Inc, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, USA.
⁷ Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
⁸ Advanced Materials Characterization Facility, Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (R&D) Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.

PMID: 27238289
DOI: 10.1002/adma.201600786

Abstract

A fibrous herringbone-modified helicoidal architecture is identified within the exocuticle of an impact-resistant crustacean appendage. This previously unreported composite microstructure, which features highly textured apatite mineral templated by an alpha-chitin matrix, provides enhanced stress redistribution and energy absorption over the traditional helicoidal design under compressive loading. Nanoscale toughening mechanisms are also identified using high-load nanoindentation and in situ transmission electron microscopy picoindentation.

Keywords: biomineral; composites; impact; toughness; ultrastructure.