Gecko-inspired dry adhesive headed to Space
source: http://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/designengineering/features/designapplications/article.j...
-
-
- DeliaTheArtist
- added this
Nature + Technology = AWESOME!
"Based on his doctoral research into polymer (plastic) MEMS processing, Simon Fraser University PhD graduate Dan Sameoto has developed a new method of creating microscopic structures from plastic. The first application of this new process is the development of a “dry adhesive” that mimics the stickiness of gecko feet ... and could be headed for outer space.
Sameoto’s dry adhesive was created using a plastic polymer mold to form microscopic “mushrooms” (about a micron in size) on the surface of a silicone rubber sheet. Rather than using a very soft glue-like material to provide tackiness (as in traditional tapes), such biomimetic adhesives use nano-sized fibres that will stick in low-pressure or vacuum environments using van der Waals force, the attractive or repulsive force between molecules effective over very small distances."
"Based on his doctoral research into polymer (plastic) MEMS processing, Simon Fraser University PhD graduate Dan Sameoto has developed a new method of creating microscopic structures from plastic. The first application of this new process is the development of a “dry adhesive” that mimics the stickiness of gecko feet ... and could be headed for outer space.
Sameoto’s dry adhesive was created using a plastic polymer mold to form microscopic “mushrooms” (about a micron in size) on the surface of a silicone rubber sheet. Rather than using a very soft glue-like material to provide tackiness (as in traditional tapes), such biomimetic adhesives use nano-sized fibres that will stick in low-pressure or vacuum environments using van der Waals force, the attractive or repulsive force between molecules effective over very small distances."
-
- groups:
- Tech, Upstream, Science, Weird Science
-
- tags:
- Tech, Science, Technology, Upstream, 3 more
