Biological and Synthetic Hierarchical Composites

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Abstract
Many advanced composites can best be described hierarchically. In particular, the biological composites that occur in organisms are generally seen to be organized on discrete scale levels ranging from the molecular to the macroscopic. At each level the components are held together by specific interactions and organized in a way that is optimized for the ultimate function and performance of the overall system. Biological composites typically consist of fibers made from long macromolecules, organized into different structures. One can learn much from biological composites by considering the relationship between their structures and their properties. Whether natural or synthetic, for a composite system to function efficiently its components must be assembled into a specific architecture that gives the required spectrum of properties. Creators of high-performance synthetic composites hope to emulate nature by designing materials that are optimized for their ultimate functions on every scale from the molecular to the macroscopic.