Bioinspired design of flexible armor based on chiton scales

Matthew Connors, Ting Yang, Ahmed Hosny, Zhifei Deng, Fatemeh Yazdandoost, Hajar Massaadi, Douglas Eernisse, Reza Mirzaeifar, Mason N. Dean, James C. Weaver, Christine Ortiz and Ling Li ()
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Matthew Connors: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ting Yang: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Ahmed Hosny: Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School
Zhifei Deng: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Fatemeh Yazdandoost: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Hajar Massaadi: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Douglas Eernisse: Department of Biological Science, California State University Fullerton
Reza Mirzaeifar: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Mason N. Dean: Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces
James C. Weaver: Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University
Christine Ortiz: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ling Li: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Man-made armors often rely on rigid structures for mechanical protection, which typically results in a trade-off with flexibility and maneuverability. Chitons, a group of marine mollusks, evolved scaled armors that address similar challenges. Many chiton species possess hundreds of small, mineralized scales arrayed on the soft girdle that surrounds their overlapping shell plates. Ensuring both flexibility for locomotion and protection of the underlying soft body, the scaled girdle is an excellent model for multifunctional armor design. Here we conduct a systematic study of the material composition, nanomechanical properties, three-dimensional geometry, and interspecific structural diversity of chiton girdle scales. Moreover, inspired by the tessellated organization of chiton scales, we fabricate a synthetic flexible scaled armor analogue using parametric computational modeling and multi-material 3D printing. This approach allows us to conduct a quantitative evaluation of our chiton-inspired armor to assess its orientation-dependent flexibility and protection capabilities.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13215-0

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