Inspired by the material found in oyster shells and abalone, engineers at Princeton have created a new cement composite that is 17 times stronger against cracks than standard cement and 19 times more capable of stretching and deforming without breaking. The findings could help increase crack resistance in a wide range of brittle ceramic materials, from concrete to porcelain. “If we can engineer concrete to resist crack propagation, we can make it tougher, safer and more durable,” said researcher Shashank Gupta, a graduate student in Professor Reza Moini’s laboratory in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. In an article … Continue reading Princeton’s New Cement Mimics Oyster Shells: 17 Times Crack Resistance, 19 Times More Ductile