Packs a punch
Mantis shrimp’s powerful forelimbs inspire next-gen materials
They may be little more than 10cm long, but mantis shrimp pack a serious punch. They are able to whip out their club-like forelimbs at a whopping 23 metres per second, smashing them into their prey with the force
of rifle bullet. ;et despite this tremendous
impact, these ancient crustaceans can throw blow after blow, without sustaining damage.
low, material scientists at the University of California, Irvine, have discovered that these clubs have a uniquely designed nanoparticle coating that absorbs and
dissipates energy. This finding could have significant implications for engineered
materials in the automotive, aerospace and sports industries, they say.
“Think about punching a wall a couple of thousand times at those speeds and not
breaking your fist,” said lead researcher
Prof David iisailus. “That’s pretty impressive, and it got us thinking about how
this could be.”
The team used transmission electron microscopes (TEM) and atomic force microscopes (AFM) to examine the nanoscale architecture and materials that make up the surface layer on the clubs. They found that the nanoparticles are made of intertwined organic proteins and polysaccharides, and inorganic calcium phosphate nanocrystals. The inorganic nanocrystals are stacked together like Lego pieces, but with small differences in orientation where they join together.
“The high-resolution TEM really helped us understand these particles, how they’re architected and how they react under different types of stress. At relatively low strain rates, the particles deform almost like a marshmallow and recover when the stress
is relieved,” -isailus said.
But at high strain rates, they behave differently. “The particles stiffen and fracture at the nanocrystalline interfaces. When you break something, you’re opening
up new surfaces that dissipate significant amounts of energy.”
The structure could be imitated and used to engineer similar particles to add enhanced protective surfaces for use in cars, aircraft, cycle helmets and body armour, the researchers say.