Artificial Gecko Adhesive, Now In Experimental Glue 102
thefickler writes "Scientists at the University of Dayton have created a peel-on, peel-off glue which mimics the wall-climbing abilities of Spiderman. The substance, based on the feet of the Gecko lizard, is three times stickier than existing adhesives. The material is so strong that a 4×4mm pad would be enough to hold a 1.5kg object such as a hardcover book. However, it's likely too expensive for consumer use: one British scientist calculates that a single Post-it note using the glue would cost around a thousand dollars." We've mentioned the possibilities of synthetic gecko technology several times before, including as applied in this wall-climbing robot; commercial applications have seemed just around the corner for a while now.
Re:Hmmm... (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Hmmm... (Score:3, Informative)
TFS says a 4x4 mm pad holds 1.5 kg.
Someone is wrong (probably TFS, since it implies failure on ther part of the editors).
How can 4.5x4.5 mm hold more than 160 times the eight of 2x2 mm when it's just 5 times the surface area?
Prespective (Score:1, Informative)
How many of those hooks does it take to hang an M1 Abram [wikipedia.org]?
Tape Characteristics:
Area: 4mm^2
Weight It Holds: 1.5kg
Tape holds: 533.3 lbs/in^2 [google.com]
M1 Abram Tank Characteristics:
Weight: 135200 lbs
Amount of tape needed: 1.76 ft^2 [google.com]
Shown on the Science Channel (Score:2, Informative)
Re:wrong (Score:2, Informative)
Can it be removed instantly without solvents and with no damage to the materials bonded together?
Yes, that's the whole point of this.
Think about a gecko, does it rip the paint off walls with each step? The bond is easily released by peeling but sticks strongly if you try to slide it, like a post-it note but stronger. Apparently it is self-cleaning too.
It doesn't bond the way glue or other adhesives do, the adhesion is from the addition of the van der Waals force from millions/billions of tiny "hairs". more info [berkeley.edu]