Lessons from the Ocean: Whale Baleen Fracture Resistance

Whale baleen is a keratin‐based biological material; it provides life‐long (40–100 years) filter‐feeding for baleen whales in place of teeth. This study reveals new aspects of the contribution of the baleen's hierarchical structure to its fracture toughness and connects it to the unique performance requirements, which require anisotropy of fracture resistance. Baleen plates are subjected to competing external effects of hydration and varying...