Structure and Mechanical Properties of Water Buffalo Horns

Abstract

Many studies have been reported in the field of biological materials. For the most part, this interest has focused on teeth, bones, hooves and horns, elucidating the relationship between structure and mechanical properties. Due to their novel outstanding structures and mechanical properties, this knowledge is helpful for the use and design of the superior bio-inspired synthetic materials. Similarly, this research aims to investigate the microstructure and mechanical properties of the water buffalo horn in 1-5 years old in Phatthalung province in southern Thailand. The tensile properties and the Young’s modulus were systematically measured by a universal testing machine. The hardness was determined by micro vickers hardness testing machines. The results showed that the average of Young’s modulus, the tensile strength at break and the vickers hardness of a 2-year-old water buffalo horn were about 6.1 GPa, 92.6 MPa and 180 MPa, respectively, which were higher than that at 1, 3, 4 and 5 years old. The elongation at break of a 1 year old water buffalo horn has a maximum value of 61%. The microstructure and chemical composition were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX), respectively. The results of SEM showed that the fracture surface of the water buffalo horn has a rippled shape in each layer. The EDX analysis showed that the water buffalo horn consists of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen.