Structural Biomaterials

Front Cover
Princeton University Press, 1990 - Medical - 244 pages

"This book should go a long way towards filling the communication gap between biology and physics in the area of biomaterials]. It begins with the basic theory of elasticity and viscoelasticity, describing concepts like stress, strain, compliance, and plasticity in simple mathematical terms. . . . For the non-biologist, these chapters provide a clear account of macromolecular structure and conformation. . . . Vincent's work] is a delight to read, full of interesting anecdotes and examples from unexpected sources. . . . I can strongly recommend this book, as it shows how biologists could use mechanical properties as well as conventional methods to deduce molecular structure."--Anna Furth, The Times Higher Education Supplement


In what is now recognized as a standard introduction to biomaterials, Julian Vincent presents a biologist's analysis of the structural materials of organisms, using molecular biology as a starting point. He explores the chemical structure of both proteins and polysaccharides, illustrating how their composition and bonding determine the mechanical properties of the materials in which they occurincluding pliant composites such as skin, artery, and plant tissue; stiff composites such as insect cuticle and wood; and biological ceramics such as teeth, bone, and eggshell. Here Vincent discusses the possibilities of taking ideas from nature with biomimicry and "intelligent" (or self-designing and sensitive) materials.

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Contents

IV
1
V
5
VI
11
VII
16
VIII
25
IX
28
X
36
XI
37
XXVIII
140
XXIX
146
XXX
149
XXXI
153
XXXII
163
XXXIII
164
XXXIV
166
XXXV
168

XII
41
XIII
44
XIV
68
XV
69
XVI
73
XVII
89
XVIII
91
XIX
95
XX
99
XXI
101
XXII
108
XXIII
113
XXIV
115
XXV
121
XXVI
126
XXVII
128
XXXVI
179
XXXVII
196
XXXVIII
198
XXXIX
201
XL
204
XLI
210
XLII
211
XLIII
215
XLIV
219
XLVI
221
XLVII
222
XLVIII
223
XLIX
224
L
237
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