title: Study of the microstructure and mechanical properties of white clam shell.
abstract: The microstructure and mechanical properties of white clam shell were investigated, respectively. It can be divided into horny layer, prismatic layer and nacreous layer. Crossed-lamellar structure was the microstructural characteristic. The extension direction of lamellae in prismatic layer was different from that in nacreous layer, which formed an angle on the interface between prismatic layer and nacreous layer. The phase component of three layers was CaCO3 with crystallization morphology of aragonite, which confirmed the crossed-lamellar structural characteristic. White calm shell exhibited perfect mechanical properties. The microhardness values of three layers were 273HV, 240HV and 300HV, respectively. The average values of flexure and compression strength were 110.2MPa and 80.1MPa, respectively. The macroscopical cracks crossed the lamellae and finally terminated within the length range of about 80μm. It was the microstructure characteristics, the angle on the interface between prismatic and nacreous layer and the hardness diversity among the different layers that enhanced mechanical properties of white calm shell.
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China; State Key Laboratory of Automotive Simulation and Control, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China.
authors.forename: Yunhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China.
authors.forename: Xiujuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China. Electronic address: zhzh@jlu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Zhihui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China.
authors.forename: Luquan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ren
mesh_terms: D060105:Animal Shells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000032:analysis; D003460:Crystallization
chemical_list: D002119:Calcium Carbonate
keywords: Mechanical properties; Microstructure; Phase component; Shell