Sharks are magnificent creatures that often inspire fear and awe in people. They move so quickly and gracefully in the water, and scientists are conducting research as to the shark’s mobility and speed. Researchers have found that synthetic shark skin may be able to promote speed in ships and submarines and would also be much cheaper to operate.
Sharks are one of the few sea animals who do not become burdened with barnacles, algae and mussels clinging on to them. Many fishes, crabs and whales are host to a variety of organisms clinging on to them and weighing them down. The same goes for many naval ships and submarines, which after a prolonged period of time in the water is coated with life. The growth of all these organisms on the underside of a ship increases the drag of the boats, as well as fuel consumption. Researchers have been trying to overcome this problem, and have realised that the skin of the shark must be playing an important role. Boat owners have been using toxins to prevent the problem of growth, but these can also be harmful to marine life.
Shark skin consists of thousands of small little scales that run backwards along the back of the shark. These scales are called dentin, and act as armour to the big fish, as well as enabling them to swim quickly and quietly. Each scale on the shark can move individually which prevents any barnacles from attaching. Researchers are using synthetic shark skin on ships to reduce growth by limiting the contact surface which prevents barnacles from attaching themselves. The synthetic skin has reduced bio-fouling by 67% and is self-cleaning when travelling at higher speeds.
Tags: growth, research, scales, shark, skin, speed, synthetic
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