Antler Page 1 of 3

General information
Overview
Antlers are the large horn-like appendages of deer, moose, elk and reindeer. They consist of bony outgrowths
covered, when growing, with a vascular skin called velvet that supplies oxygen and nutrients to the growing bone.
When fully grown, the velvet is lost and the antler bone dies and hardens. Antlers are shed after mating season
and re-grown each year. Antler, because of its hardness, was an important material for tools such as handles for
stone axes, harpoons and needles in the Palaeolithic and Neolithic eras. Its use continued, as combs and
decorative objects, until the 19th century.

Designation
Antler

Composition overview
Compositional summary
Collagen-rich tissue mineralized with hydroxyapatite. Antler bone contains about 40% mineral by volume (60% by
weight).

Material family Natural

Base material Biological
Renewable content 100 %

Composition detail (polymers and natural materials)

Natural material 100 %

Price
Price * 3.96 - 5.57 EUR/kg
Price per unit volume * 6.72e3 - 1.08e4 EUR/m^3

Physical properties
Density 1.7e3 - 1.95e3 kg/m^3

Mechanical properties
Young's modulus 6.6 - 11 GPa
Yield s trength (elas tic limit) 60 - 90 MPa
Tensile strength 95 - 113 MPa
Elongation 5 - 8 % strain
Compressive modulus * 6.6 - 11 GPa
Compressive strength * 95 - 150 MPa
Flexural modulus 6 - 10 GPa
Flexural strength (modulus of rupture) 160 - 240 MPa
Shear modulus * 3 - 4.5 GPa
Bulk modulus * 4.1 - 7 GPa
Poisson's ratio * 0.2 - 0.22
Shape factor 4.39
Hardness - Vickers * 21 - 30 HV
Fatigue strength at 10^7 cycles 60 - 64 MPa
Mechanical loss coefficient (tan delta) * 0.15 - 0.22

Values marked * are estimates.

No warranty is given for the accuracy of this data
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Impact & fracture properties

Fracture toughness * 7.1 - 10.2 MPa.m^0.5

Thermal properties
Maximum service temperature * 400 - 500 °C
Minimum service temperature * -73 - -23 °C
Thermal conductivity 1.7 - 4 W/m.°C
Specific heat capacity * 1e3 - 1.18e3 J/kg.°C
Thermal expansion coefficient 17.9 - 28.5 µstrain/°C

Electrical properties
Electrical resistivity 2e9 - 1e10 µohm.cm
Dielectric constant (relative permittivity) * 14 - 30

Magnetic properties
Magnetic type Non-magnetic

Optical properties
Transparenc y Translucent

Critical materials risk

Contains >5wt% critical elements? No

Durability
Water (fresh) Excellent
Water (salt) Excellent
Weak acids Acceptable
Strong acids Unacceptable
Weak alkalis Excellent
Strong alkalis Acceptable
Organic solvents Excellent
Oxidation at 500C Unacceptable
UV radiation (sunlight) Good
Flammability Non-flammable

Primary production energy, CO2 and water

Embodied energy, primary production * 31.7 - 35 MJ/kg
CO2 footprint, primary production * 1.27 - 1.4 kg/kg
Water usage 500 - 1.5e3 l/kg

Recycling and end of life

Recycle
Recycle fraction in current supply 0.1 %
Downcycle
Combust for energy recovery

Values marked * are estimates.

No warranty is given for the accuracy of this data
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Landfill
Biodegrade

Links
ProcessUniverse
Reference

Values marked * are estimates.

No warranty is given for the accuracy of this data