Clarify the ability to paste the keys

2002/08/27 Elhuyar Zientzia

• Biologia
• Zoologia

The keys are small reptiles capable of adhering to all types of surfaces. For a long time these animals are very interesting to scientists and in recent years have tried to unravel what their secrets of adhesion are. Hooks are able to climb smoothly through a polished glass wall and keep the weight of your body face-down with a single finger.

In fact, a team of biologists and engineers at the University of California has been able to affirm a theory on how they achieve this amazing ability to stick. They say that the key is in the movies that are under the feet of the keys. There are millions of little hair under each foot, each little hair, called quet, has a length of 0.0001 millimeters. The end of each mushroom is divided into thousands of smaller films, called spatula.

When placing the keys on any surface, the mushrooms are separated from each other, allowing each spatula to greatly increase the density of the contact surface. As a consequence, between the surface and each spatula are created links of Van der Waals.

Van der Waals links are weak links that can occur on any surface. But considering that each spatula is small, the force that is achieved together is very large. Thus, a single mushroom has the ability to lift an ant and a million mushrooms can collect 20 kilos.

Scientists believe that by copying the structure of the hairs of the keys, adhesives can be created that can be used on any surface, even under water.