Made Better through Science: Calcite Tuned to Be Mollusk-Tough (IMAGE)

Cornell University

Made Better through Science: Calcite Tuned to Be Mollusk-Tough

Caption

Top: Aspartic acid molecules embedded in a crystalline lattice. Middle: A dislocation in the crystal, represented by the black line, gets hung up on the molecules. Bottom: The dislocation cuts one of the molecules. The strength of a covalent bond in the molecule ultimately determines the hardness of the crystal

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Cornell University

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