Which materials do mice not gnaw through? - briefly
Mice cannot gnaw through solid metal, reinforced concrete, thick glass, and high‑density hard plastics such as polycarbonate. They can breach softer materials like wood, cardboard, plastic sheeting, and thin metal foil.
Which materials do mice not gnaw through? - in detail
Mice can gnaw through many soft or moderately hard substances, but several materials effectively resist their incisors. The resistance depends on hardness, brittleness, and thickness; the animal’s bite force is insufficient to break or penetrate these substances under normal conditions.
- Steel and other hard metals – tensile strength exceeds 400 MPa; typical mouse bite force (~0.5 N) cannot deform or cut the metal. Even thin sheets (≈0.5 mm) remain intact.
- Aluminum alloy – although softer than steel, the material’s yield strength (≈200 MPa) still prevents penetration by a mouse’s incisors.
- Copper and brass – ductile but with high shear strength; mice cannot create holes without mechanical assistance.
- Concrete – compressive strength of 20–40 MPa; the dense matrix and aggregate particles stop chewing.
- Brick and fired clay – hardness comparable to concrete; mice cannot fracture or chip the material.
- Glass – brittle yet high fracture toughness; a mouse’s bite cannot generate the stress concentration needed to shatter it.
- Ceramic tiles – similar to glass in brittleness and hardness; resistant to gnawing.
- Stone (granite, marble, limestone) – compressive strengths of 50–150 MPa; far beyond the force a mouse can apply.
- Thick PVC or rigid acrylic – hardness and thickness (≥2 mm) prevent bite-through; softer plastics (e.g., polyethylene film) are vulnerable.
- Carbon fiber composites – high tensile strength and woven structure resist penetration; mice cannot separate the fibers with their teeth.
Additional considerations:
- Thickness matters – a material that is thin enough (e.g., a 0.2 mm aluminum foil) may be breached, whereas a thicker equivalent resists.
- Coatings – metal or plastic sheathing over softer substrates adds a barrier; mice cannot reach the underlying material.
- Temperature – extreme cold can make some plastics brittle, but even then, the required force exceeds a mouse’s capability.
In practice, sealing entry points with any of the above substances, preferably in combination (e.g., steel mesh backed by concrete), provides reliable protection against mouse intrusion.