Biominerals

Question 1

What purpose do minerals generally serve in living organisms?

Answer 1

Structural purposes, specifically stiffening

Question 2

What properties do mineralized tissues tend to have?

Answer 2

-Composites with softer organic materials
-Remarkable stiffness, toughness, resistance to wear

Question 3

What are the most common biominerals?

Answer 3

Calcite (calcium carbonate)
Carbonated apatite (dahllite)
Silica

Question 4

What is bone a composite of?

Answer 4

Collagen and hydroxyapatite

Question 5

How does crystal size affect material properties?

Answer 5

Smaller is stronger. As objects approach the nm size, theoretical strength is approached

Question 6

What are the properties of silica in the glass sponge skeleton?

Answer 6

-95% silica glass
-Hierarchical arrangement over 6-7 scales
-Mechanical performance and key mechanisms were not well understood

Question 7

What glass sponge structure provides the best buckling resistance under compression?

Answer 7

Square grids and a double set of diagonal bracings