Sacrificial bonds in the interfibrillar matrix of bone

A remarkable self-healing, toughening and strengthen-ing system, the sacrificial bonds and hidden length system,is widespread in nature: especially in "glues" in remarkablytough nanocomposite biomaterials such as bone, abaloneshell and diatoms. Abalone shell is 97% crystalline calciumcarbonate plates by weight, but is 3,000 times more fractureresistant than pure calcium carbonate