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Lessons for New Classes of Inorganic/Organic Composites from the Spicules and Skeleton of the Sea Sponge Euplectella aspergillum

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

G. Mayer ,
R. Trejo ,
E. Lara-Curzio ,
M. Rodriguez ,
K. Tran ,
H. Song  and
W. H. Ma
G. Mayer
Affiliation:
Dept. of Mat. Sci. & Eng., University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195–2120
R. Trejo
Affiliation:
High Temperature Materials Laboratory, ORNL, Oak Ridge, TN 37831–6062
E. Lara-Curzio
Affiliation:
High Temperature Materials Laboratory, ORNL, Oak Ridge, TN 37831–6062
M. Rodriguez
Affiliation:
Dept. of Mat. Sci. & Eng., University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195–2120
K. Tran
Affiliation:
Dept. of Mat. Sci. & Eng., University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195–2120
H. Song
Affiliation:
Dept. of Mat. Sci. & Eng., University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195–2120
W. H. Ma
Affiliation:
Dept. of Mat. Sci. & Eng., University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195–2120
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Abstract

Studies have been carried out on the structures and mechanical characteristics of an unusual family of sea sponges under the classification of Hexactinellida, genus Euplectella. The sponge spicules have been of interest to materials scientists because of their potentially important optical, coupled with mechanical, properties. The structures of the class Hexactinellida are characterized by a concentric ring appearance in the cross-section, which is a composite of hydrated silica, coupled with silicatein as a thin layer at the ring interfaces. The mechanical behavior and the toughness of the spicules have been examined with the aid of a special fiber testing method, coupled with scanning electrom microscopy (SEM) observations. It appears that there may be common mechanisms underlying toughness in rigid natural composites with high ratios of mineral/organic phase. In addition, novel pressurization tests of a portion of the sponge skeleton have provided information about the resilience of the skeleton, which resembles a selfsupporting glass winding of a cylindrical composite structure.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 844: Symposium Y – Mechanical Properties of Bio-Inspired and Biological Materials , 2004 , Y4.2
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2005

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References

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