Raise the quality of concrete from the sea urchin backbone

European scientists say the discovery of the secret behind the sea urchin's robust backbone could help improve building materials such as concrete, according to UPI.

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The definitive vertebrae of the sea urchin were determined by calcium carbonate, which had some form of natural appearance, and now researchers want to know exactly how they are formed.

"Some people say that the sea urchin's backbone is a single crystal, and others who are considering mechanical properties claim that they are more like glass materials ," said study author Helmut Coelfen of the University of California at Urbana-Champaign. says Konstanz (Germany).

X-ray studies show that they are built with crystalline calcite bricks with ' crystalline ' mortar .

Researchers say the brick and mortar texture is made of 92 percent calcite, or 'brick,' which is attached to an 8 percent calcium carbonate mortar that has no crystalline structure.

Imitation of the texture of the sea urchin's strong spine can bring great results to humans.

"The most obvious application is building materials, to make anti-cracking materials just by imitation and trying to mimic the building principle," Coelfen said.