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Hierarchical Structures in Biology as a Guide for New Materials Technology (1994) / Chapter Skim
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1 INTRODUCTION
Pages 13-16

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
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From page 13...
... , and many display properties that change, either abruptly or gradually, in response to a changing environment. Equipped to prepare only limited sets of constituent materials, organisms have evolved an astonishing array of architectural strategies to realize a broad range of structure and function.
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From page 14...
... Second, the levels of structural organization are held together by specific interactions between components. Considerable evidence indicates that strong surface-to-surface interactions occur, which are caused by intermolecular covalent bonds at specific active sites or by strong van der Waals forces.
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From page 15...
... At the request of the Department of Defense and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Materials Advisory Board convened the Committee on Synthetic Hierarchical Structures to examine these issues and to review techniques related to preparing hierarchical structures that possess useful and unusual physical properties and to assess the opportunities for these structures in civilian and military applications. Although a broad range of functions are represented in biological systems, the committee concentrated on structural material systems and their properties.
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Key Terms

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  • characterize properties
  • materials capable
  • architectural design
  • phenomena involved
  • evidence indicates

  • considerable evidence
  • possess useful
  • increased coordination
  • human knee
  • specific hierarchical

  • active sites
  • constituent materials
  • single figure
  • elevated temperatures
  • provide direction

  • environmental response
  • van der
  • board convened
  • extraordinary properties
  • electronic materials


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