Summary
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1.
For mature animals where all fractions of the cuticle have a high insoluble protein content, the outer fraction is notably brittle while the middle and inner fractions exhibit extensive plastic flow on tensile deformation.
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2.
The composite tensile behaviour ofLimulus cuticle can be adequately described in terms of a simple law of mixtures where the three fractions are held together by means of a brittle glue at their interfaces.
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3.
No significant differences were observed between the alcohol-preserved material and specimens of fresh whole cuticle in terms of mechanical behaviour where both have equal amounts of insoluble protein.
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4.
The fracture behaviour of the whole cuticle is biologically analogous to case-hardened engineering materials.
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5.
None of the available histological criteria for distinguishing individual components of the cuticle were useful as indicators of either the extent of tanning of the mechanical properties ofLimulus cuticle.
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6.
All the protein in the cuticle ofLimulus becomes stabilized by cross-linking, and this process is important both in making the protein insoluble and in determining the mechanical properties of the cuticle.
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Joffe, I., Hepburn, H.R. & Andersen, S.O. On the mechanical properties ofLimulus solid cuticle. J Comp Physiol B 101, 147–160 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694155
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694155