ABSTRACT
Many invertebrates have evolved hard shells to protect themselves against predators and their surrounding environment. Over millions of years highly specialised biomineralised structures have evolved to suit a variety of life-styles [Currey and Taylor 1974]. It is known that the special mechanical advantages inherent in these ceramic-reinforced biological materials can be attributed to their micro-composite form, in which a high volume fraction inorganic (ceramic) component is combined within a tenuous organic polymer matrix [Carter I980, Jackson et al 1990]. The underlying structure-function relationship of these remarkable composites is of considerable interest, in particular for the extraction of novel engineering design concepts that may provide the insight into the design of stronger, stiffer and more fracture-resistant materials [Vincent 1990, Katti et al200l].
