A First Insight of Honeycomb Structure Material Horseshoe Crab Origin from Asian (Tachypleus tridentatus) and American (Limulus polyphemus) Continent

Abstract

The honeycomb structure serves as a catalyst for future advancements in biomaterial development due to the integration of bioinspired designs and the study of renewable materials. The prosoma, a distinctive feature of horseshoe crabs resembling a horseshoe-shaped plate, have not been developed in terms of its material specifications and role in the honeycomb structure. This study aimed to determine the physical-chemical characteristics of honeycomb structure materials from the prosoma of Tachypleus tridentatus (TT) and Limulus polyphemus (LP). The study included the identification and morphometric analysis of the species, macro and microstructure appearance. Mechanical physical properties included compressive strength, tensile strength, elasticity, and thermal properties, while chemical properties included composition, elements or components, functional groups, and the estimation of honeycomb structure with acoustic impulse. The prosoma structure of horseshoe crabs exhibited a twisted plywood network with a Bouligand pattern. The compressive strength of prosoma TT and LP is 108 kPa and 115 kPa, while tensile strength is 62 kPa and 64 kPa. Thermal properties showed the same phase range value and component decomposition occurred at 350°C. Chemically, high protein content with functional groups suitable for chitin was present. The density and amplitude of the acoustic wave differed at a frequency of 5000 Hz.