Successfully made a new adhesive.

Small mushroom-shaped hairs are the secret of a new adhesive, a sticky substance developed by scientists at the Max Planck Metal Research Institute, (Stuttgart, Germany).

Inspired by the soles of the beetles and so called bio-copying techniques , the special surface structure of the material allows this material to adhere to the walls. Flat without using any adhesive. There are many potential applications for this material, from reusable adhesive tape to climbing climbing shoe soles and so there are significant implications for this work. technology.

A photo taken with a biologically reproduced surface structure microscope with a new adhesive.Material (green), get ideas from the soles of the insects, sticking to the glass (blue).(Photo: ScienceDaily)

It has long been known that spiders and geckos have an excellent ability to ' walk ' on walls and ceilings. The extremely thin hairs help their legs stick to the wall and the larger the size, the finer the hairs are. According to the findings of scientists at the Max Planck Metal Research Institute, the shape of this material is also important: for example, the tip of a hair-shaped hair-knife can create Very strong adhesive.

These findings have sparked great hopes . Can we basically copy the structure of the soles of insects and will soon find similar bio-copying techniques? for example, how to make adhesives from nature for everyday use? Scientists at the Max Planck Metal Research Institute and their colleagues at Gottlieb Binder GmbH (Holzgerlingen, Germany), a company specializing in all kinds of zippers, have to be very determined and persistent because the first generation of adhesives they made with so many methods was ineffective.

However, scientists now take a step forward in copying the biotic sticky structure of insects. They developed a microstructure material with extremely good adhesion properties, based on studying the soles of some beetles. The particularly strong adhesive force of the soles of these beetles is due to their distinctive hairs - like small mushrooms.

In thorough tests, using specially developed measuring instruments for this work, conducted by Max Planck scientists, the artificial adhesive structure gave impressive results. and prove its many benefits. This artificial adhesive can be used for hundreds of different applications, leaving no trace when removed and can be cleaned with soap and water.

Scientists found that only 5 cm ² of the adhesive could hold objects weighing up to 100 grams on the wall. However, this limit will be reduced for the ceiling. Smooth and flat objects such as glass and glossy wood are very suitable surfaces, but wall-papers made from wood-based are not suitable for this adhesive. ' The insects also find it difficult to move on rough surfaces - and that is the basic problem with this artificial adhesive structure.' Mr. Stanislav Gorb, who led the study, explained.

To make adhesive, scientists use a mold like a cake mold to bake and the inside of the mold must be embossed by applying a negative effect . The mold is filled with a polymerized mixture, a mixture must be treated to allow it to stay long and then evaporate from the mold. This may sound easy but it is the result of a whole lot of trial and error . For scientists, the microstructure 'structure' is a big challenge and the exact way it works is still a ' commercial ' secret. Optimally evaluating the polymer mixture can cause scientists to ' pay taxes ', because: If it is too loose, it will flow out of the mold, if it is too thick, it will not even fall. into the mold.

And now, there are many potential applications for this adhesive, from the protective ' leaf ' for thin glass materials to reusable adhesives - break up with sticky magnets Now, these are not tiny hairs, they can stick you to the mirror, into cupboards and windows. For example, this new material will soon be used in industrial manufacturing processes to make components of glass materials. It has also demonstrated the ability to stick heavier objects: For example, applying this adhesive to the soles of a robot weighing 120 grams can help this robot climb a glass wall vertically.

Currently, the scientists are trying to improve this adhesive by ' refining ' its structure to be better in a study they are working on. ' However, there is a lot of work for our research team to do. One thing that can be done smoothly in the laboratory must be very long, a long way to be able to apply it in large-scale production. Professor Stanislav Gorb explained.

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