Also: limpet radula, goethite nanofibres, strongest biological material
Limpets are small sea snails that scrape food off rocks with rows of tiny teeth. The teeth are a composite of iron-mineral (goethite) nanofibres packed in a softer protein, and they hold the record for the highest tensile strength measured in any biological material.
Only what the cited papers report.
Values as stated in the cited paper's abstract.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength of limpet tooth material | 3.0-6.5 GPa | Barber 2015 |
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Barber, Lu and Pugno measured the tensile strength of limpet tooth material at 3.0 to 6.5 GPa, higher than spider silk and approaching the strongest man-made fibres. They linked this to a high volume of goethite nanofibres thinner than a critical, defect-controlled size.
As reported in: Barber, Lu, Pugno (2015). Extreme strength observed in limpet teeth. Journal of The Royal Society Interface. doi:10.1098/rsif.2014.1326