用金属制造的发动机在工作到900℃高温时就会瘫痪,而陶瓷却可以耐1000℃以上的高温,英国的威廉·克莱格博士因此制造出陶瓷发动机。但陶瓷发动机脆而易碎,根本无法应用于颠簸场所或急速行驶的机车上。后来,威廉仔细研究了贝壳,发现其结构为多层的碳酸钙,且相邻层间夹着有机质层 Engines made of metal work at temperatures as high as 900°C, but ceramics can withstand temperatures as high as 1000°C. Dr. William Craig of the United Kingdom has therefore produced ceramic engines. However, the ceramic engine is brittle and fragile and cannot be applied to bumpy locations or fast moving locomotives. Later, William carefully studied the shell and found that the structure is multi-layered calcium carbonate with organic layers sandwiched between adjacent layers.