Page 48 - Biomimetics: Technology Imitates Nature

Biomimetics: Technology Imitates Nature

ber. But did you know that the first wood coatings were made from nat-
ural oils and insect secretions?
Many protective substances used in our daily lives were actually
used long before in nature by living things. Wood polish is just one ex-
ample. The hard shells of insects also protect them against water and
damage from the outside.
Insects’ shells and exoskeletons are reinforced by a protein called
sclerotin, making them among the hardest surfaces in the natural world.
Furthermore, an insect’s protective chitin covering never
loses its color and brightness. 39
Clearly, considering all this, the systems con-
struction firms use to cover and protect external sur-
faces will be much more effective if they have a com-
position similar to those found in insects.

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