STRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF CATTLE HORNS

Abstract

In order to investigate the structure and mechanical characteristics of cattle horns, the microstructures of the keratin shell and bone core were examined by scanning electron microscopy, and a series of mechanical tests were performed by the tension-compression test machine and pendulum impact test machine. Results showed that the keratin shell was a laminated structure stacked by keratin protein slices, and the bone core was a light-weight porous material with pores randomly distributed in the longitudinal direction. The ultimate tensile strength of the keratin shell diminished gradually from distal to middle to proximal parts with the values of 162, 125 and 85 MPa, respectively. The ultimate compressive strength of keratin shell and bone core in the longitudinal direction was higher than that in the transverse. The moisture could cut down significantly the mechanical characteristics of keratin shell and bone core. The shock toughness of the keratin shell was 4.9 J/cm2, which was 7 times as large as that of the bone core. It can be concluded that cattle horn is a graded biological material with outstanding mechanical characteristics. The moisture, location and direction of the sampling have a significant effect on the mechanical characteristics of cattle horns. Compared with the bone core, the keratin shell has a better crashworthiness performance.