Berlin 2015 – scientific programme
Parts | Days | Selection | Search | Updates | Downloads | Help
MM: Fachverband Metall- und Materialphysik
MM 32: Biomaterials and Biological materials I
MM 32.1: Topical Talk
Wednesday, March 18, 2015, 10:15–10:45, TC 006
Structure-property relations in biological composite materials: An inspiration source for synthetic materials — •Helge-Otto Fabritius1, Joachim Enax2, Xia Wu3, Matthias Epple2, and Dierk Raabe1 — 1Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung, Düsseldorf, Germany — 2University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany — 3University of Paderborn, Paderborn, Germany
From a materials science point of view, biological materials are hierarchically structured nano-composites optimized through evolution to perform vital functions within the specific eco-physiological strains of living organisms. Most of them consist of a matrix of structural biopolymers like collagen in vertebrate bones and teeth, chitin in arthropod exoskeletons, or cellulose in plants and various other organic and inorganic constituents. Their physical properties are adapted to the specific functions of the materials and can be very diverse, which is caused by structural and chemical alterations at different hierarchical levels. Understanding the structure-property relations and thus the design principles of biological materials is a valuable source of inspiration for the development and improvement of synthetic materials with tailored properties. Using a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches, we explore this potential in a variety of natural materials like shark tooth enameloid as a biological model for dental materials with improved performance and durability and photonic crystals formed by the arthropod cuticle as inspiration for the development of new, optically active materials.