Gleaming, iridescent mother-of-pearl possesses more than beauty. The material, technically called nacre, has strength and toughness that materials scientists envy because it’s made of highly ...

New Composite Material Is Almost Better Than Mother-of-pearl. ScienceDaily . Retrieved June 4, 2025 from www.sciencedaily.com / releases / 2008 / 03 / 080307102657.htm ...

Like mother of pearl, the material has an extremely tough outer shell with a more flexible inner backing that’s capable of deforming and absorbing projectiles. The lightweight plastic, seen above, is ...