Snail Shell as an Inspiring Engineering Material in Science and Technology Development: A Review

Abstract

This review article provides a comprehensive overview of the research status on snail shells as inspiring engineering materials in Science and Technology development. Snail shells which represent the bio-shell waste of snails' remnants from restaurants, eateries or snail sellers constitute a serious degree of environmental threat with little or no economic value. Their effective utilization can bring immense economic prosperity. They are very useful raw materials in the treatment of waste water and the purification of aqueous solutions. They can also be used in the production of naturally based materials and for the preparation of calcium for medicinal purposes. Snail shells can be used as fillers in the paper industry to improve the paper capacity or in the cosmetic industries as face powder. Snail shells are suitable reinforcement materials for the production of composites applicable in the automotive components such as pistons, connecting rods and brake pads. Where flexural strength, hardness and impact strength are of paramount importance such as automobile parts, snail shells reinforced unsaturated polyester composites should be given priority. They are good alloying agents for aluminum based composites. The researches in this area are growing very fast, there is need therefore for continuous and upgraded review on this theme.