title: Characterization of multi-layered fish scales (Atractosteus spatula) using nanoindentation, X-ray CT, FTIR, and SEM.
abstract: The hierarchical architecture of protective biological materials such as mineralized fish scales, gastropod shells, ram's horn, antlers, and turtle shells provides unique design principles with potentials for guiding the design of protective materials and systems in the future. Understanding the structure-property relationships for these material systems at the microscale and nanoscale where failure initiates is essential. Currently, experimental techniques such as nanoindentation, X-ray CT, and SEM provide researchers with a way to correlate the mechanical behavior with hierarchical microstructures of these material systems1-6. However, a well-defined standard procedure for specimen preparation of mineralized biomaterials is not currently available. In this study, the methods for probing spatially correlated chemical, structural, and mechanical properties of the multilayered scale of A. spatula using nanoindentation, FTIR, SEM, with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) microanalysis, and X-ray CT are presented.
authors.affiliation: Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center; paul.g.allison@usace.army.mil.
authors.forename: Paul G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alabama.
authors.forename: Rogie I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center.
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.affiliation: Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center.
authors.forename: Brett A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Environmental Laboratory, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center.
authors.forename: Aimee R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Poda
authors.affiliation: Environmental Laboratory, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center.
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Seiter
authors.affiliation: Environmental Laboratory, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center.
authors.forename: Brandon J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Lafferty
authors.affiliation: Environmental Laboratory, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center.
authors.forename: Alan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.affiliation: Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center.
authors.forename: Mei Q
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Chandler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005399:Fishes / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D034582:Integumentary System / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed