Sticking to rough surfaces using functionally graded bio-inspired microfibres.

ABSTRACT: Synthetic fibrillar adhesives inspired by nature, most commonly by the gecko lizard, have been shown to strongly and repeatedly attach to smooth surfaces. These adhesives, mostly of monolithic construction, perform on par with their natural analogues on smooth surfaces but exhibit far inferior adhesive performance on rough surfaces. In this paper, we report on the adhesive performance of functionally graded microfibrillar adhesives based on a microfibre with a divergent end and a thin soft distal layer on rough surfaces. Monolithic and functionally graded fibre arrays were fabricated from polyurethanes and their adhesive performance on surfaces of varying roughness were quantified from force-distance data obtained using a custom adhesion measurement system. Average pull-off stress declined

SUBMITTER: Gorumlu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5493905 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature