Japanese made shell crab transparent
Baku, 4 December (AZERTAC). Researchers from Kyoto University (Kyoto University) made the usual shell crab in a translucent silhouette. Curiously, the experiment was not for fun and not even for the needs of biologists who want to look into the interior of a living creature. The purpose of the Japanese - the creation of a new material for flexible displays and solar cells. In an article published in the journal Soft Matter, biologists told me that they were interested in chitin, the main component of shell crab. Its interesting properties allow its use in displays, televisions and computers, solar panels (it does not expand when heated).Meanwhile, the chitin is very common in nature: it is the main component of the exoskeletons of arthropods, component of cell walls of certain fungi and bacteria. To make the crab`s transparent, Japanese shell bathed in hydrochloric acid, then sodium hydroxide (caustic), and then dipped in ethanol remains. Chemicals washed all unnecessary connections, leaving in the hands of researchers a chitin (shell was white).Then went to the vessel shell with acrylic acid (polymerization occurred). Chitin has become transparent, and armor into a sort of hard jellyfish, reports website PhysOrg.com. The second part of the scientists decided to repeat the experiment with crushed chitin. Obtained after processing a lot of acrylic acid was converted into a kind of transparent paper. The Japanese found that the new material is about 10 times more heat-resistant than traditional materials - epoxy fiberglass. At the same time it transmits light very well (also in a wide temperature range).By the way, Americans want to do a soft shell crabs (to the delight of gourmets, who in this case will be eating it all year round).
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