The Armor of the Chinese Sturgeon: A Study of the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of the Ventral Bony Plates

Abstract

Benefiting from their unique morphological characteristics and structural properties, the ventral bony plates of the Chinese sturgeon are excellent biological protective tissue. In this work, we studied the micro- and macro-morphology and mechanical properties of the ventral bony plates of the Chinese sturgeon to elucidate the special protective mechanisms of the bony plates. Experiments involving scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed that the bony plates possess a hierarchical structure and a ridge-like shape. This structure comprises a surface layer containing mineralized nanocrystals and an internal layer containing mineralized collagen fibers. From the surface layer to the internal layer, the degree of mineralization decreases gradually. Nanoindentation, tension, and compression tests demonstrated that the bony plates feature excellent mechanical properties and a high specific tensile strength comparable to that of stainless steel. Moreover, water can significantly improve the fracture toughness and deformability of the bony plates and effectively enhance the damage tolerance of the structures. The obtained results concerning the microstructure–property–function relationships of the ventral bony plates of the Chinese sturgeon may provide novel insights for designing protective structures that are both lightweight and high strength.