Berlin 2012 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 8: Posters: Biopolymers and Biomaterials (with CPP)
BP 8.11: Poster
Monday, March 26, 2012, 17:30–19:30, Poster A
Understanding the Basis of Nacre Formation: Instabilities and Pattern Formation in Growing Polymer Brushes — •Björn Nadrowski1, Ingrid Weiss2, and Karsten Kruse1 — 1Theoretische Physik, Universität des Saarlandes, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany — 2Leibniz-Institut für Neue Materialien, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
Nacre is strong, resilient and beautiful. It is a composite material consisting of layers of biominerals such as aragonite and organic molecules such as chitin. It is thought that the particular mechanical properties of nacre are due to its composite nature and the microstructure of the arrangements of aragonite platelets and the softer organic layers in-between those platelets1. Formation of nacre starts with the secretion of chitin into the extrapallial space2. The secretion process itself might be of importance for the ensuing microstructure of the nacre-in-being. Inspired by this biological-physical background, we study instabilities and pattern formation in growing polymer brushes. Using analytical and computational approaches, we study the different structures and instabilities that can be observed depending on polymer growth velocity, pore density, bending rigidity, and monomer interaction strength.
[1] Currey, J. D. et al.,Proc Biol Sci 268 (2001) 107.
[2] Weiss, I. M., Chembiochem 11 (2010) 297.