Limpet Teeth Are Stronger Than Spider Silk

Posted on March 1, 2015

6-27Scientists from the University of Portsmouth have determined that limpet teeth are stronger than spider silk and may be the strongest natural material. Limpets are aquatic snail-like creatures with conical shaped shells. A scanning electron microscope image of limpet teeth is pictured above.

The researchers believe the strong biological structure of limpet teeth could be copied and used to design man-made products such as Formula 1 racing cars and airplanes. The researchers found limpet teeth contain a hard mineral called geothite.

The study was led by Asa Barber from the University of Portsmouth's School of Engineering. Barber says in a statement, "Until now we thought that spider silk was the strongest biological material because of its super-strength and potential applications in everything from bullet-proof vests to computer electronics but now we have discovered that limpet teeth exhibit a strength that is potentially higher."

Barber says limpets need extremely strong teeth in order to "rasp over rock surfaces and remove algae for feeding when the tide is in." He says the limpet teeth are the same strength no matter what their size.

Barber says, "Generally a big structure has lots of flaws and can break more easily than a smaller structure, which has fewer flaws and is stronger. The problem is that most structures have to be fairly big so they're weaker than we would like. Limpet teeth break this rule as their strength is the same no matter what the size."

A research paper on limpet teeth was published here in the journal Royal Society journal Interface.

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