People want a strong, light, and porous material, which is almost a contradiction in terms, but nature does it. Bone is made from calcium phosphate and collagen, which are both extremely weak. But nature mixes them together at room temperature and without toxic chemical to create something that is very tough -- this fascinates us. |
We allow nature to guide the process. Seawater can freeze like a layered material, so why not use this property to cast ceramics that mimic nacre. |
We are half a micron away from mimicking nature. |