Artificial Mother Of Pearl Mimics Nature, Builds Aesthetic Protective Coating

Nacre or Mother of Pearl is the shiny substance found as the outer coating of pearl in the inner shell layer of the mollusk. It is very strong, damage proof and iridescent. Scientists at Cambridge University have come up with artificial Mother of Pearl by mimicking the actual biological process step-by-step. Prof Ullrich Steiner from Cambridge University’s Physics Department and his student, Alex Finnemore worked on this together and produced a near look alike to natural Nacre.

Alex studied the detailed process of nacre production in nature by mollusks and implemented each step in the laboratory environment, without involving any biology. It is not as easy as it looks. They faced enough problems - First of which was stopping the calcium carbonate from crystallizing during precipitation.  They used a certain combination of ions and organic components in the solution and then crystallization did not occur. Precipitation happened properly and a layer of well defined thickness was formed.

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Following this, it is covered by a porous organic layer using a synthetic procedure. In the end, crystallization was performed. This entire process is repeated for some time. The result was alternating organic and inorganic layers. Just like any other discovery it has both pros and cons. The disadvantage is that the process takes a long time (just like in nature). This might restrict its uses. The advantage is that it can be performed in ambient temperatures in water and uses very cheap materials. Also, It can be automated at an industrial level. We must wait to see how this new procedure is received in the industry.

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