Biomimetics: lessons from nature–an overview

Abstract

Nature has developed materials, objects and processes that function from the macroscale to the nanoscale. These have gone through evolution over 3.8 Gyr. The emerging field of biomimetics allows one to mimic biology or nature to develop nanomaterials, nanodevices and processes. Properties of biological materials and surfaces result from a complex interplay between surface morphology and physical and chemical properties. Hierarchical structures with dimensions of features ranging from the macroscale to the nanoscale are extremely common in nature to provide properties of interest. Molecularscale devices, superhydrophobicity, self-cleaning, drag reduction in fluid flow, energy conversion and conservation, high adhesion, reversible adhesion, aerodynamic lift, materials and fibres with high mechanical strength, biological self-assembly, antireflection, structural coloration, thermal insulation, self-healing and sensory-aid mechanisms are some of the examples found in nature that are of commercial interest. This paper provides a broad overview of the various objects and processes of interest found in nature and applications under development or available in the marketplace.

Effects of Multi‐Scale Patterning on the Run‐In Behavior of Steel–Alumina Pairings under Lubricated Conditions

“…The rather similar wear behavior of both multiscale patterns is not surprising, since both samples have a similar deformation and temperature history as well as a comparable geometry. Furthermore, the COF of both multi-scale patterns is rather similar with values of roughly 0.10 (see Figure 2,6). Compared to the purely laser-patterned samples, the multi-scale patterns show a greatly reduced wear with a still intact laser pattern after 200 sliding cycles.…”

“…Nature found a smart way to deal with that by creating hierarchical surface patterns. [1,[4][5][6] In bio-mimetics, this design idea is used to create well-defined surfaces with specially tailored frictional properties, which are transferred from nature to applications. [7] The tribological effectiveness of singlescale surface features has been demonstrated in numerous research works including dry and lubricated conditions.…”

Circular economy for the built environment: A research framework

“…Their recommendation embedded inherent circularity, for they suggested effluents of industrial processes should serve as raw materials for other processes, so that " [t]he industrial ecosystem would function as an analogue of biological ecosystems" (Frosch and Gallopoulos, 1989 p.144). This principle resurfaced years later in more defined forms known as biomimicry (Benyus, 1997) and biomimetics (Bhushan, 2009) which, in their simplest meaning, refer to good design inspired by nature (Pawlyn, 2011). Biological analogies are also often found in the prolific work of William McDonough and Michael Braungart (Braungart et al, 2007;McDonough and Braungart, 1998, 2002McDonough et al, 2003).…”

Recent developments in polymeric superoleophobic surfaces

“…[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] In learning from nature two key surface parameters, surface energy, 12 and roughness, [13][14][15][16] are studied in depth. A number of artificial superhydrophobic surfaces have been developed, 2,[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] and these materials have broad applications in self-cleaning, anti-icing, antifogging, antifouling, and drag reduction. [25][26][27] However, superoleophobic surfaces are difficult to achieve due to the low surface tension of organic liquids (Table 1).…”