[ad_1]
Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have stated that lobster could be the key to creating extremely strong and flexible armor in the future. The basements of these famous crustaceans contain a translucent membrane that scientists have now found to be one of the most robust hydrogels in the world.
Hydrogels are gels normally composed of one or more polymers in suspension in water. For decades, they have been studied for their biomedical qualities – they have enormous potential for applications related to healing and bone regeneration, for example.
More recently, scientists have begun to focus on hydrogels for their military applications: high-tech winter gloves able to absorb sweat and other liquids to keep hands warm and dry, as well as medical bandages able to stop bleeding on the battlefield.
MIT researchers are now studying a specific hydrogel found in lobsters. Scientists have discovered that the translucent soft membrane on the underside of these marine creatures consisted of a layer of "plywood-like structure" that made it extremely resistant to cuts. It is also very flexible and extensible, allowing the lobster to move its tail.
Publish their research in the journal Acta Biomaterialia, the team discovered that the membrane on the belly of American lobster was the most resistant material of all known natural hydrogels. In terms of strength, it is comparable to the industrial rubber used in the manufacture of car tires and conveyor belts.
According to the team, its strength and flexibility make it an ideal material to use as a bulletproof vest model. "We think this work could motivate the design of soft armor," said Ming Guo, one of the study's authors, in a statement. "If you could make armor with this type of material, you could move your joints freely, which would make you feel more comfortable."
Guo started studying lobsters after noticing their unusual properties – their underwear is particularly difficult to chew, for example. When they swim, they are able to move their joints and their tails very quickly, which means that they must have connections to the soft tissues. "But no one has looked at the membrane yet, which surprises us a lot," he said.
The team performed experiments on the membrane and found that it could be stretched to twice its normal length. It has also proven to be resistant to small cuts. "We made scratches to mimic what might happen when they move in the sand, for example," Guo said. "We even cut half the thickness of the membrane and found that it could still be stretched as far. If you did that with rubber composites, they would break.
The team now hopes to understand the mechanisms underlying the strength of the lobster membrane. "We think that this membrane structure could be a very important reason why lobsters have been living for more than 100 million years on Earth. In one way or another, this fracture tolerance has really helped them in their evolution, "said Guo.
In conclusion, they said, "The knowledge gained from the soft lobster membrane is a powerful light on the design of soft, durable synthetic materials for reliable use in extreme mechanical conditions, including flexible armor that can protect the whole body without sacrificing mobility. "
[ad_2]
Source link