Bio-inspired Synthetic Ivory as a Sustainable Material for Piano Keys

TL;DR

This paper introduces a bio-inspired, sustainable synthetic ivory made from a hydroxylapatite-gelatin biocomposite, offering an environmentally friendly and biodegradable alternative to natural ivory for piano keys.

Contribution

The study develops a chemically identical, functional synthetic ivory from abundant, eco-friendly materials, providing a sustainable replacement for natural ivory in musical instruments.

Findings

Biocomposite mimics natural ivory's properties.

Fabrication process is environmentally friendly.

Material is biodegradable and sustainable.

Abstract

Natural ivory is no longer readily or legally available, as it is obtained primarily from elephant tusks, which now enjoy international protection. Ivory, however, is the best material known for piano keys. We present a hydroxylapatite-gelatin biocomposite that is chemically identical to natural ivory but with functional properties optimized to replace it. As this biocomposite is fabricated from abundant materials in an environmentally friendly process and is furthermore biodegradable, it is a sustainable solution for piano keys with the ideal functional properties of natural ivory.