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Nanoscale Morphology and Indentation of Individual Nacre Tablets from the Gastropod Mollusc Trochus Niloticus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2011

B.J.F. Bruet ,
H.J. Qi ,
M.C. Boyce ,
R. Panas ,
K. Tai ,
L. Frick  and
C. Ortiz
B.J.F. Bruet
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
H.J. Qi
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
M.C. Boyce
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
R. Panas
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
K. Tai
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
L. Frick
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
C. Ortiz*
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
*
b) Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: cortiz@mit.edu
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Abstract

The inner nacreous layer of gastropod mollusc Trochus niloticus is composed of ∼95 wt% planar arrays of polygonal aragonite-based tablets (∼8 μm wide, ∼0.9 μm thick, stacked ∼40 nm apart) and ∼5 wt% biomacromolecules. High-resolution tapping mode atomic force microscope images enabled nanoscale resolution of fractured tablet cross-sections, the organic component, and deformation of individual nanoasperities on top of tablet surfaces. Nanoindentation was performed on individual nacre tablets and the elastic modulus E and yield stress σy were reduced from elastic-plastic finite element simulations yielding E = 92 GPa, σy = 11 GPa (freshly cleaved samples) and E = 79 GPa, σy = 9 GPa (artificial seawater soaked samples). Images of the indents revealed extensive plastic deformation with a clear residual indent and surrounding pileup.

Keywords

BiologicalMechanical propertiesNanoindentation

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Articles
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Journal of Materials Research , Volume 20 , Issue 9 , September 2005 , pp. 2400 - 2419
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2005

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References

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