title: A Sustainable Substitute for Ivory: the Jarina Seed from the Amazon.
abstract: The dried endosperm of the seed of Phytelephas sp is widely used for artisanal work in the Amazon region due to its favorable mechanical properties and pleasant appearance that resemble elephant ivory. While the seeds have enjoyed popularity and limited use by selected industries (e.g., military uniform buttons and piano keys) and handicraft applications, little is known about the mechanical properties and structure of this sustainable material. This work is the first to characterize the dried Jarina endosperm and to investigate its functionality as a viable substitute for elephant ivory. Structural analysis of typical seeds reveals the prevalence of tubules that align in rings and radiate from the (usually hollow) core of the seed. This seed, in the absence of a reinforcement structure or mineral phase, possesses mechanical properties slightly inferior to elephant ivory and selected plastics, while retaining the visual appeal of a naturally occurring material. A synthetic structure inspired on the seed is created and suggestions for further development are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Yinghao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
authors.forename: A Marc A
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Meyers
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Jae-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Carlos F M
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Coimbra
mesh_terms: D019684:Magnoliopsida; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D012639:Seeds