Microscopic firewalls: Robust foils of synthetic nacre analogues act as a heat shield
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 05:35
in Physics & Chemistry
(PhysOrg.com) -- Biological materials are fascinating because they are very light but have the ability to withstand extreme forces. Nacre is amazingly tough thanks to a multi-layer arrangement of platelet-shaped calcium carbonate crystals ("bricks") and proteins ("mortar") in the form of a "brick wall".