[P1-45] Fiber-intersectant microstructure of fish scale and biomimetic research
The microstructures of the scale of a chub fish are observed with scanning electronic microscope (SEM). It is shown that the scale is a kind of natural biocomposite consisting of parallel hydroxyapatite fiber layers and collage matrix. The hydroxyapatite fiber layers consist of long and thin hydroxyapatitefiber fiber sheets. It is also observed that the fiber sheets in adjacent fiber layers compose a fiber-intersectant microstructure. Based on the observed result, the fiber-intersectant microstructure is employed as the pattern for the design of man-made fiber-reinforced composite. A kind of fiber-reinforced composite with the fiber-intersectant structure is biomimetically fabricated. The fracture toughness of the biomimetical composite is tested and compared with that of the conventional composite with fiber-parallel structure. It is indicated that the fracture toughness of the biomimetical composite is remarkably larger than that of the composite with the fiber-parallel structure.