Bioinspired processing for the sustainable fabrication of high-performance bioinspired ceramic-reinforced polymer composites

Although bioinspired materials with outstanding mechanical properties have been developed successfully, current manufacturing methods are energy consuming and rely on harsh conditions. On the contrary, natural ceramic composites are grown at ambient temperature and pressure, exhibiting high performance that may not be suitable for engineering applications. Based on highly mineralized biological ceramic composites, five key structural elements were identified: (1) anisotropic inorganic building blocks, (2) tight packing of the organic phase, (3) weak inorganic-inorganic interfaces but strong inorganic-organic bonding, (4) complex microstructural arrangements, and (5) presence of water. While there is a bioinspired strategy for each established element, some 3D printing methods appear promising in combining all into a single process. A better assessment on the sustainability of bioinspired ceramic composites and their marketization is also critical in view of future applications. This review serves to inform researchers on approaches to develop sustainable processes for advanced ceramic composites using bioinspiration.