title: Nanoconfinement and the strength of biopolymers.
abstract: This review examines size effects observed in the mechanical strength of biopolymers that are organized in microstructures such as fibrils, layered composites, or particle nanocomposites. We review the most important aspects that connect nanoconfinement of basic material constituents at critical length scales to the mechanical performance of the entire material system: elastic modulus, strength, extensibility, and robustness. We outline theoretical and computational analysis as well as experimentation by emphasizing two strategies found in abundant natural materials: confined fibrils as part of fibers and confined mineral platelets that transfer load through a biopolymer interface in nanocomposites. We also discuss the application of confinement as a mechanism to tailor specific material properties in biological systems.
authors: Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
authors: Tristan
authors: T
authors: Giesa
authors: Markus J
authors: MJ
authors: Buehler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D008903:Minerals / Q000737:chemistry*; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D008903:Minerals