Journal
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
Volume 19, Issue -, Pages 33-45Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2015.03.011
Keywords
Crack growth resistance; Fracture toughness; Enamel; Organic content; Proteins
Funding
- National Institutes of Dental and Craniofacial Research [R01 DE016904]
- National Science Foundation [NSF DMR 1337727]
- Direct For Mathematical & Physical Scien
- Division Of Materials Research [1337727] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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With only 1% protein by weight, tooth enamel is the most highly mineralized tissue in mammals. The focus of this study was to evaluate contributions of the proteins on the fracture resistance of this unique structural material. Sections of enamel were obtained from the cusps of human molars and the crack growth resistance was quantified using a conventional fracture mechanics approach with complementary finite element analysis. In selected specimens the proteins were extracted using a potassium hydroxide treatment. Removal of the proteins resulted in approximately 40% decrease in the fracture toughness with respect to the fully proteinized control. The loss of organic content was most detrimental to the extrinsic toughening mechanisms, causing over 80% reduction in their contribution to the total energy to fracture. This degradation occurred by embrittlement of the unbroken bridging ligaments and consequent reduction in the crack closure stress. Although the organic content of tooth enamel is very small, it is essential to crack growth toughening by facilitating the formation of unbroken ligaments and in fortifying their potency. Replicating functions of the organic content will be critical to the successful development of bio-inspired materials that are designed for fracture resistance. (C) 2015 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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