Superadhesive material with keys

2003/07/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Teknologia

Researchers at the University of Manchester have invented a very adhesive material. To achieve this they have based on the keys. Keys are known for their ability to stick, for example, they can hang from the ceiling from a single foot. Recently, scientists discovered the secret of the keys and discovered what that capacity was due to.

It seems that the millions of pinches on their feet are able to stick anywhere. In materials with dry skin, these hairs bind to the molecules of the material through the forces of Van der Waals. To keep the surfaces moist, the effect of the capillary dispersion is exploited, that is, a kind of absorption occurs. Since there are no tails, the skin is completely clean.

The material obtained by the researchers also has this characteristic, that is, once the tape is removed there is no trace. It is also more adhesive than any other adhesive. The drawback of this material is that it is still very expensive to be produced at an industrial level. Therefore, researchers are studying how to cheapen the material.