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Biologische Systeme und Medizin Poster: Mi., 14:00–16:30 M-P205
Residual Stresses in the Exoskeleton of a Homarus americanus Lobster
Haroldo Pinto 1 , Helge Fabritius 1 , Dierk Raabe 1 , Anke Pyzalla 1
1 Max-Planck Institute for Iron Research, Max-Planck Str.1, 40237 Düsseldorf, Ger-
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Artificial tissues are being increasingly used in the replacement of damaged structural
parts of the body. These artificial structures do not only require appropriated mechanical
properties, but also biocompatibility and hemostatic properties. Therefore,
the emulation of natural scaffolds represents an interesting possibility to combine good
mechanical properties with biocompatibility.
Natural extracellular skeletons often consist of ordered fibrous composites, which are
hierarchically arranged in twisted plywoods structures. Generally, composite materials
contain significant residual stresses due to differences in the physical properties
of matrix and reinforcement. Also biological composites are, therefore, expected to
have residual stresses, which are supposedly correlated to their formation process and
function.
The aim of these investigations is a first time characterization of the residual stress
state in biocomposites, particularly in the cuticle of a lobster Homarus americanus,
which is a hierarchically organized natural material. The structure of the exoskeleton
and its residual stress state are revealed by electron microscopy and synchrotron X-ray
diffraction studies.