10x tougher bio-inspired ceramics survive 1,112°F temps for aerospace and beyond

French engineers used freeze-casting to build a nacre-like layered ceramic composite.

The material is about 10 times tougher than conventional ceramics and still performs at 600°C (1112°F).

Its crack-deflecting lamellar structure could make ceramics more viable for aerospace, protective gear, tooling, and implants.

The method also offers a relatively low-cost route to high-temperature, high-strength ceramic materials.