Abstract
Ceramic-polymer composites produced by natural organisms are known to have properties far beyond those that can be achieved in present technological materials [1]. The mollusk shell, for example, starting with relatively weak structural ingredients calcium carbonate and chitin is one such ceramic-polymer composite. In nacre, the overall composite is more than 95 volume percent calcium carbonate, with the remainder an organic matrix of protein and chitin. The inorganic phase consists of highly oriented aragonite platelets forming the bricks and the organic matrix forming the mortar in between [1]. Even though nacre consists of a high amount of the inorganic component, it has excellent fracture toughness and high strength. Studies have been conducted to understand the factors which control the nucleation and orientation of crystallization [2-4]. However, very limited knowledge about the ceramic polymer interfaces, structure, chemistry and whether the interfacial interaction involves ion-binding is known.
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