Seaurchinspineswerechosenasamodelsystemforbiomimeticceramicsobtainedusingstarch-blendedslipcasting.Porousaluminaceramicswithcap-shapedlayerswithdifferentalternatingporositieswerefoundtohavesuperiorfracturebehaviorunderbulkcompressioncomparedtoceramicswithuniformporosity.Theyfailinacascadingmanner,absorbinghighamountsofenergyduringextendedcompressionpaths.TheporosityvariationinanotherwisesinglephasematerialmimicksthearchitecturalmicrostructuredesignofseaurchinspinesofHeterocentrotusmammillatus,whicharepromisingmodelmaterialsforimpactprotection.