Real Biomimicry Applications

SEE YA LATER FORMALDEHYDE BASED GLUES

A cluster of Blue Mussels [3]

Blue mussels are found near shore and are sometimes beat repeatedly from the crashing of waves. So how have they developed a way to be able to stick to rocks and docks? The mussels attach themselves to substrates with strong flexible threads that cling to rocks with the amino acid 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine. When the amino acids form chains, the chains are able to overcome water molecules from trying to dissolve it [6]. This underwater “glue” is the strength of manmade glue without carcinogens like formaldehyde which can cure underwater. Taking formaldehyde out of the picture reduces exposure of a known carcinogen to workers, the public and the environment. Thanks biomimicry!

32% REDUCTION IN AIRPLANE DRAG- HOW CAN THIS BE?

Tubercules on the whale's flipper [8].

In order to coral their shrimp-like prey, humpback whales swim in tight circles small enough to produce bubbles five feet in diameter at the surface. This forty-five foot long, 75,000 pound whale can turn on a dime by keeping a grip on the water with their special pectoral flippers that have large, irregular bumps going all the way down the leading edge called tubercules. The tubucules create even channels of water running over their flippers that allow the whale to make sharper angles and turn tighter corners [4].  Models comparing the flippers with and without the tubercules show an 8% improvement in lift, a 40% increase in angle attack and an amazing 32% reduction in drag [7]! If biomimicry were employed to make airplane wings, a staggering amount of gas would be saved! This idea could also be used to make wind turbines boat rudders underwater vehicles, and fans in all shapes and sizes to improve efficiency.

PRETTY CLEAN

The flower may be beautiful, but the main stars in the background [5]!

Imagine a world where less chemical-loaded detergents were used in order to keep surfaces clean. Sounds great, right? By mimicking the complex surface micro-topography of a lotus leaf, paints can be self-cleaned by water molecules! The leaf surface exhibits extensive folding (papillose epidermal cells) and cuticular wax crystals that gives the leaf a roughed microscale surface with an extreme hydrophobicity [2]. Basically the surface creates a reduced liquid to solid contact area that causes the water droplets to form spheres. Dirt particles on the leafs surface tend to stick to the water droplets as opposed to the leaf since the leaf’s topography reduces the contact with the dirt by 95%, and there is natural adhesion between water and solids [9]. When gravity pulls the water down the leaf’s surface dirt is picked up and the leaf is cleaned! Using the science of biomimicry, this idea can be borrowed from the lotus leaf to produce paints, glass, roofing tiles and textiles that can be cleaned without the use of chemicals. With no chemicals, and using rainfall, this is the most efficient and sustainable way to clean a building!