The effect of temperature and humidity on adhesion of a gecko-inspired adhesive: implications for the natural system.

ABSTRACT: The adhesive system of geckos has inspired hundreds of synthetic adhesives. While this system has been used relentlessly as a source of inspiration, less work has been done in reverse, where synthetics are used to test questions and hypotheses about the natural system. Here we take such an approach. We tested shear adhesion of a mushroom-tipped synthetic gecko adhesive under conditions that produced perplexing results in the natural adhesive system. Synthetic samples were tested at two temperatures (12 °C and 32 °C) and four different humidity levels (30%, 55%, 70%, and 80% RH). Surprisingly, adhesive performance of the synthetic samples matched that of living geckos, suggesting that uncontrolled parameters in the natural system, such as surface chemistry and material changes, may not be a

SUBMITTER: Stark AY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4969590 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature