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A tough material inspired by the tiled scales of a crocodile could be useful as body armour or for covering equipment to help it last

Crocodile skin is tough, but also flexible Tosporn Preede/Alamy

Crocodile skin is tough, but also flexible

A flexible, protective fabric tiled like crocodile skin can resist stabbing, cuts and abrasion. It could be used as armour in dangerous industrial and work settings or to make long-lasting shoes.

Materials designed to be resistant to mechanical damage, like puncture wounds or stabs, are often rigid and heavy because of the dense fibres used to make them hard to pierce. This can make it difficult to create practical armour or clothing from them.

Now, Swee Ching Tan at the National University of …

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