Values of tensile strength, compressive strength, bending strength, hardness and modulus of elasticity are reported for the shell material of various species of bivalve, gastropod and cephalopod mollusc. Nacre is the strongest structural type, but crossed lamellar structure is the hardest. Possible selective reasons for these differences are discussed but no firm conclusions are drawn.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
John D. Currey (1976) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: