A photo from open sources
It was previously believed that the most durable material on earth is silk spiders, however, researchers concluded that the most hard matter – teeth of the usual type of mollusks (marine saucer).
Saucers are small hardy snails that live in the oceans of our planet. They live everywhere – from the darkest and deep gorges to the coastal zones. Dense, cone-shaped the sink reliably protects the leg, which clams with incredible forcefully cling to stones of underwater rocks. Saucers eat seaweed, unfolding a long tongue that is dotted with hundreds sharp teeth, they scrape food from boulders and rocks.
By carefully examining the microscopic fragments of the teeth of this mollusk, experts came to the conclusion that each curved tooth, having a length of about 1 mm, about 100 times thinner than a human hair. In addition, it turned out that the mineralized teeth of marine saucers are 10 percent stronger than spider silk, and therefore, the most durable on Earth.
The secret of the strength of the teeth of the mollusk – in size and composition fibrous structures that form each tooth. These fibers in thousands of times thinner than artificial nanofibers that today used in the manufacture of aircraft, bulletproof vests and bicycle frames. Thanks to the biological composite from the mixture mineral oxide of iron and chitin, dental fibers of mollusks do not only durable, but also incredibly elastic.
During the experiments, the teeth – mollusk fibers withstood a load of 1,500 kg that would be suspended on a string thick with spaghetti.
The next task of researchers is to reproduce the mechanism by which these tiny creatures create really unique materials. Although, as experiments have shown, artificially mimicking spider silk was extremely difficult, but experts are sure that the cloves can be scanned in 3D printing.
Scientists have no doubt that the potential for growing the crystal fibers of mollusks are significantly higher than that of silk spiders. In addition, scientists are encouraged by the fact that the teeth of the saucers as much as 10% stronger. Although, until recently, it was believed that spider silk has the most complex and strong fiber structure, famous in nature. Lightweight and flexible fibers five times stronger stainless steel and also very elastic.
