Title:        Prof. Dr.
First Name:   Antonio G.
Last Name:    Checa
Sex:          male
Affiliation:  Universidad de Granada
Adress:       Dpto. Estratigrafia y Paleontología, 
Campus de Fuentenueva
City:         Granada
Postal Code:  E-18002
Country:      SPAIN
Phone:        +34 958243201
Email:        acheca@ugr.es
Abstract:     MICROSTRUCTURE CHARACTERIZATION OF MOLLUSK SHELLS BY X-RAY AND ELECTRON DIFFRACTION TECHNIQUES

Antonio G. Checa (1), Alejandro B. Rodriguez-Navarro (2)
(1) Dpto. Mineralogía y Petrología, (2) Dpto. Estratigrafía y Paleontología,
Universidad de Granada, 18002 Granada, SPAIN; acheca@ugr.es; anava@ugr.es.


	Mollusk shells are composite bioceramics made of CaCO3 in the form of calcite and/or aragonite crystals, embedded within an organic framework. The shell is constructed with superimposed layers with the same or different mineralogical composition. The CaCO3 crystals in different shell layers may adopt different morphologies and organise in different highly organized configurations, or shell microstructures. The combination of a highly organized rigid mineral part and an elastic organic part confer these biomaterials superior mechanical properties which makes them ideal models for bioinspired materials. To reproduce these materials in the laboratory is necessary first to understand how crystals became organised in shell microstructures and to determine which factors influence their ordered assembly. To understand shell microstructure development, we have combined X-ray (area detector) and electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD) techniques with high resolution SEM to follow the ordering mechanisms during shell deposition. We have applied this methodology to determine the ordering mechanisms in molluscs showing the most characteristics microstructure types namely: cross-lamellar, nacre, prismatic, foliated. These data can be useful to other researchers studying textured materials.

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