Freshwater oysters key to developing stronger, "greener" adhesives
Using the CLS, an international research team studied the unique adhesive produced by a freshwater oyster common in African rivers and lakes. The glue, which the oysters use to stick to wood or other oysters to form underwater reefs, is made of a mineral called aragonite. The oysters arrange the adhesive so that it is soft on the outside and progressively harder on the inside. It’s so sticky, the scientists found, because it combines the aragonite with special proteins that the oyster produces. The findings could lead to better synthetic, “green” glues that mimic the properties of the oyster’s adhesive.
To read the full story online, visit https://www.lightsource.ca/public/new...