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Biomimetic transparent eye protection inspired by the carapace of an ostracod (crustacea)

Parker, Andrew R., Palka, Barbara P., Albon, Julie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3029-8245, Meek, Keith M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9948-7538, Holden, Simon and Malik, F. Tegwen 2021. Biomimetic transparent eye protection inspired by the carapace of an ostracod (crustacea). Nanomaterials 11 (3) , 663. 10.3390/nano11030663

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Abstract

In this study we mimic the unique, transparent protective carapace (shell) of myodocopid ostracods, through which their compound eyes see, to demonstrate that the carapace ultrastructure also provides functions of strength and protection for a relatively thin structure. The bulk ultrastructure of the transparent window in the carapace of the relatively large, pelagic cypridinid (Myodocopida) Macrocypridina castanea was mimicked using the thin film deposition of dielectric materials to create a transparent, 15 bi-layer material. This biomimetic material was subjected to the natural forces withstood by the ostracod carapace in situ, including scratching by captured prey and strikes by water-borne particles. The biomimetic material was then tested in terms of its extrinsic (hardness value) and intrinsic (elastic modulus) response to indentation along with its scratch resistance. The performance of the biomimetic material was compared with that of a commonly used, anti-scratch resistant lens and polycarbonate that is typically used in the field of transparent armoury. The biomimetic material showed the best scratch resistant performance, and significantly greater hardness and elastic modulus values. The ability of biomimetic material to revert back to its original form (post loading), along with its scratch resistant qualities, offers potential for biomimetic eye protection coating that could enhance material currently in use.

Item Type: Article
Date Type: Publication
Status: Published
Schools: Optometry and Vision Sciences
Additional Information: This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/).
Publisher: MDPI
ISSN: 2079-4991
Funders: DSTL
Date of First Compliant Deposit: 26 March 2021
Date of Acceptance: 5 March 2021
Last Modified: 06 May 2023 01:18
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/140121

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