What can mice not gnaw? - briefly
Mice are unable to gnaw materials such as metal, glass, and hardened plastics because these substances exceed the strength of their incisors. They also cannot chew through thick ceramic or stone surfaces.
What can mice not gnaw? - in detail
Mice possess incisors that continuously grow, enabling them to bite through many soft and semi‑hard materials. Their chewing ability is limited by hardness, brittleness, and chemical composition of the target. Items that exceed the tensile strength of mouse teeth remain untouched.
Materials that resist mouse gnawing include:
- Metals such as steel, aluminum, copper and their alloys; hardness far exceeds the bite force of rodents.
- Glass and tempered safety glass; brittle structure fractures under pressure rather than yielding to cutting action.
- Ceramics and porcelain; high compressive strength and low ductility prevent effective grinding.
- Stone, concrete and brick; mineral composition and density render them impenetrable.
- Certain high‑density plastics (e.g., polycarbonate, acrylic) and composite boards; rigidity and toughness surpass the cutting capability of incisors.
- Toxic substances with deterrent taste or odor (e.g., strong detergents, concentrated acids); chemical repulsion discourages interaction regardless of physical properties.
The underlying reasons are consistent across categories: the material’s hardness surpasses the maximum force generated by mouse jaws, the structure does not permit progressive wear, or the substance poses an immediate health risk that triggers avoidance behavior. Consequently, objects composed of these substances remain intact when exposed to rodent activity.