Characterization of the microscopic tribological properties of sandfish (Scincus scincus) scales by atomic force microscopy
Lizards of the genus Scincus are widely known under the common name sandfish due to their ability to swim in loose, aeolian sand. Some studies report that this fascinating property of sandfish is accompanied by unique tribological properties of their skin such as ultra-low adhesion, friction and wea...
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| Format: | Article |
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Beilstein-Institut
2018-10-01
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| Series: | Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.9.243 |
| _version_ | 1818479357137518592 |
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| author | Weibin Wu Christian Lutz Simon Mersch Richard Thelen Christian Greiner Guillaume Gomard Hendrik Hölscher |
| author_facet | Weibin Wu Christian Lutz Simon Mersch Richard Thelen Christian Greiner Guillaume Gomard Hendrik Hölscher |
| author_sort | Weibin Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lizards of the genus Scincus are widely known under the common name sandfish due to their ability to swim in loose, aeolian sand. Some studies report that this fascinating property of sandfish is accompanied by unique tribological properties of their skin such as ultra-low adhesion, friction and wear. The majority of these reports, however, is based on experiments conducted with a non-standard granular tribometer. Here, we characterise microscopic adhesion, friction and wear of single sandfish scales by atomic force microscopy. The analysis of frictional properties with different types of probes (sharp silicon tips, spherical glass tips and sand debris) demonstrates that the tribological properties of sandfish scales on the microscale are not exceptional if compared to snake scales or technical surfaces such as aluminium, Teflon, or highly oriented pyrolytic graphite. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T11:09:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-444164621cd14f1f85e3c8667bde3847 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2190-4286 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T11:09:31Z |
| publishDate | 2018-10-01 |
| publisher | Beilstein-Institut |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology |
| spelling | doaj.art-444164621cd14f1f85e3c8667bde38472022-12-22T01:51:27ZengBeilstein-InstitutBeilstein Journal of Nanotechnology2190-42862018-10-01912618262710.3762/bjnano.9.2432190-4286-9-243Characterization of the microscopic tribological properties of sandfish (Scincus scincus) scales by atomic force microscopyWeibin Wu0Christian Lutz1Simon Mersch2Richard Thelen3Christian Greiner4Guillaume Gomard5Hendrik Hölscher6Institute of Microstructure Technology (IMT), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), H.-v.-Helmholtz Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, GermanyInstitute of Microstructure Technology (IMT), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), H.-v.-Helmholtz Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, GermanyInstitute for Applied Materials (IAM), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Strasse am Forum 5, 76131 Karlsruhe, GermanyInstitute of Microstructure Technology (IMT), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), H.-v.-Helmholtz Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, GermanyInstitute for Applied Materials (IAM), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Strasse am Forum 5, 76131 Karlsruhe, GermanyInstitute of Microstructure Technology (IMT), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), H.-v.-Helmholtz Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, GermanyInstitute of Microstructure Technology (IMT), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), H.-v.-Helmholtz Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, GermanyLizards of the genus Scincus are widely known under the common name sandfish due to their ability to swim in loose, aeolian sand. Some studies report that this fascinating property of sandfish is accompanied by unique tribological properties of their skin such as ultra-low adhesion, friction and wear. The majority of these reports, however, is based on experiments conducted with a non-standard granular tribometer. Here, we characterise microscopic adhesion, friction and wear of single sandfish scales by atomic force microscopy. The analysis of frictional properties with different types of probes (sharp silicon tips, spherical glass tips and sand debris) demonstrates that the tribological properties of sandfish scales on the microscale are not exceptional if compared to snake scales or technical surfaces such as aluminium, Teflon, or highly oriented pyrolytic graphite.https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.9.243biotribologyfrictional properties of reptile scalessandfishScincus scincus |
| spellingShingle | Weibin Wu Christian Lutz Simon Mersch Richard Thelen Christian Greiner Guillaume Gomard Hendrik Hölscher Characterization of the microscopic tribological properties of sandfish (Scincus scincus) scales by atomic force microscopy Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology biotribology frictional properties of reptile scales sandfish Scincus scincus |
| title | Characterization of the microscopic tribological properties of sandfish (Scincus scincus) scales by atomic force microscopy |
| title_full | Characterization of the microscopic tribological properties of sandfish (Scincus scincus) scales by atomic force microscopy |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of the microscopic tribological properties of sandfish (Scincus scincus) scales by atomic force microscopy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of the microscopic tribological properties of sandfish (Scincus scincus) scales by atomic force microscopy |
| title_short | Characterization of the microscopic tribological properties of sandfish (Scincus scincus) scales by atomic force microscopy |
| title_sort | characterization of the microscopic tribological properties of sandfish scincus scincus scales by atomic force microscopy |
| topic | biotribology frictional properties of reptile scales sandfish Scincus scincus |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.9.243 |
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