237
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015
H. Ehrlich, Biological Materials of Marine Origin, Biologically- Inspired Systems 4,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-5730-1_5
Chapter 5
Materials Design Principles of Fish Scales
and Armor
Abstract Models for new engineering designs are based on high-performance
natural materials and systems including biological materials. Fish scales, which
serve in the animal for many functional roles simultaneously, possess high biomimetic potential for bioinspiration and development of different armor-based constructs, superoleophobic as well as self cleaning surfaces. The diversity of fi sh scale
shapes, their mechanical properties and broad variety of biomimetic applications
are discussed in this chapter.
Fish scales fi rst evolved millions of years ago as a form of fl exible armor. Humans
adapted scales for many uses, both artistic and practical. Scales continue to be
utilized in a variety of formats today, including military science and engineering.
Also representing them in Computer Graphics proves an interesting challenge
(Landreneau 2011 ). Moreover, the principles of fi sh scale organization (Fig. 5.1 ) are
used in modern optics. It was shown that metamaterial of bilayered fi sh-scale origin
can function as a broad bandpass fi lter in the terahertz modus. The fi lter is relatively
insensitive to incidence angles up to 45° ( Zhang et al. 2012a , b ).
From an evolutionary point of view, fi sh scales provided a new type of protection
for organisms. Instead of surrounding an animal in large, rigid segments, scales
cover an organism in a network of small, armored plates. Being smaller, the scales
form a fl exible sheetlike surface that is both resistant to attack and fl exible. Scales
can overlap, forming an imbricated network which fully covers the animals without
the weak points of exoskeleton joints. These advantages make scales a powerful
evolutionary advantage, one that persists in many animals today (Landreneau 2011 ).
Now, the popular source of bioinspiration for both bionics and biomimetics is the
shark skin and its dermal denticles (placoid scales). It seems that we could also fi nd
alternatives for very impressive examples of fi sh scale protective properties in more
ancient fi sh taxa. Scales contain tough materials that fossilize well, meaning that
scaled animals will have a far more robust fossil record than similar, unscaled animals. In fact, a great number of primitive animals are identifi ed by their scales
alone, as the scales are all that remains of their bodies after fossilization. That species can be differentiated by their scales also emphasizes a large diversity in the
structure and composition of scales (see for review Timms 1905 ; Creaser 1926 ; Sire
et al. 2009 ).
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015
H. Ehrlich, Biological Materials of Marine Origin, Biologically- Inspired Systems 4,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-5730-1_5
Chapter 5
Materials Design Principles of Fish Scales
and Armor
Abstract Models for new engineering designs are based on high-performance
natural materials and systems including biological materials. Fish scales, which
serve in the animal for many functional roles simultaneously, possess high biomimetic potential for bioinspiration and development of different armor-based constructs, superoleophobic as well as self cleaning surfaces. The diversity of fi sh scale
shapes, their mechanical properties and broad variety of biomimetic applications
are discussed in this chapter.
Fish scales fi rst evolved millions of years ago as a form of fl exible armor. Humans
adapted scales for many uses, both artistic and practical. Scales continue to be
utilized in a variety of formats today, including military science and engineering.
Also representing them in Computer Graphics proves an interesting challenge
(Landreneau 2011 ). Moreover, the principles of fi sh scale organization (Fig. 5.1 ) are
used in modern optics. It was shown that metamaterial of bilayered fi sh-scale origin
can function as a broad bandpass fi lter in the terahertz modus. The fi lter is relatively
insensitive to incidence angles up to 45° ( Zhang et al. 2012a , b ).
From an evolutionary point of view, fi sh scales provided a new type of protection
for organisms. Instead of surrounding an animal in large, rigid segments, scales
cover an organism in a network of small, armored plates. Being smaller, the scales
form a fl exible sheetlike surface that is both resistant to attack and fl exible. Scales
can overlap, forming an imbricated network which fully covers the animals without
the weak points of exoskeleton joints. These advantages make scales a powerful
evolutionary advantage, one that persists in many animals today (Landreneau 2011 ).
Now, the popular source of bioinspiration for both bionics and biomimetics is the
shark skin and its dermal denticles (placoid scales). It seems that we could also fi nd
alternatives for very impressive examples of fi sh scale protective properties in more
ancient fi sh taxa. Scales contain tough materials that fossilize well, meaning that
scaled animals will have a far more robust fossil record than similar, unscaled animals. In fact, a great number of primitive animals are identifi ed by their scales
alone, as the scales are all that remains of their bodies after fossilization. That species can be differentiated by their scales also emphasizes a large diversity in the
structure and composition of scales (see for review Timms 1905 ; Creaser 1926 ; Sire
et al. 2009 ).