The structure of sea shells could form the basis of safety glass for smartphones

Glass – one of the most useful materials in the modern world, but its disadvantage is its tendency to

cracking or shedding.Scientists at McGill University have developed a new type of glass, inspired by mollusk shells, that is stronger and harder while maintaining good clarity.

Inner iridescent layer of clam shellis actually the secret of its strength. The microscopic structure of this material, known as mother-of-pearl, is reminiscent of brickwork: plaques of hard calcium carbonate interspersed with soft, resilient biopolymers. This structure not only increases strength, but also prevents crack propagation.

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In previous work, researchers at McGillimitated mother-of-pearl by etching microscopic cracks in glass with a laser, and although this increased strength and rigidity, it reduced transparency. In a new study, the team reproduced the structure using a composite of glass flakes and acrylic, which act as hard plates and soft elastic plates, respectively.

To keep the material transparent,the researchers changed the refractive index of acrylic to match the refractive index of glass. The result is a material that is much stronger and tougher than ordinary glass, but at the same time remains transparent.

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The team says the method can bescalable, and the resulting material can be useful for creating more durable displays for smartphones and other devices. In future work, the researchers plan to study ways to change the color, conductivity and other properties of the material.

Source: mcgill, science

Illustrations: Pi-Lens

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