Superadhesive tape based on keys

2003/06/03 Elhuyar Zientzia

• Materialak
• Biologia
• Zoologia

Researchers at the University of Manchester have invented a material with a huge ability to stick. According to them, it is an interesting material, since it can be used in many applications, such as tires that better grip the road, adhesive tapes to close wounds, gloves of climbers, etc.

For the obtaining of this material have been based on keys. The keys are known for their ability to stick: they can hang from the ceiling from a single foot. Recently, scientists discovered the secret of the keys and learned what that capacity was due to. Precisely thanks to their pinches on the feet they are able to stick anywhere.

In materials with dry skin, these films join the molecules of the material through the forces of Van der Waals. The union to the humid ones is produced by absorption forces. Since there are no tails, the skin is completely clean. And with that tape that the researchers have made, they have also managed that after removing the tape no remains remain. 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 industrial level. Therefore, researchers are studying how to cover the material.

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Photo: DAP / D. Paul Stewart.