Adhesives
A new kind of chemical glue
May 30, 2013 7:36 am | by David L. Chandler, MIT News Office | News | CommentsOver the past three decades, researchers have found various applications of a method for attaching molecules to gold; the approach uses chemicals called thiols to bind the materials together. But while this technique has led to useful devices for electronics, sensing and nanotechnology, it has limitations. Now, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology team has found a new material that could overcome many of these limitations.
Research improves dry lubricant used in machinery, biomedical devices
May 17, 2013 10:44 am | News | CommentsNearly everyone is familiar with the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), otherwise known as Teflon. Famous for being “non-sticky” and water repellent, PTFE is a dry lubricant used on machine components everywhere. Recently, engineering researchers at the University of Arkansas found a way to make the polymer even less adhesive.
Adhesion system of fish studied to create bio-inspired adhesive
February 21, 2013 8:18 am | News | CommentsA new study provides details of the structure and tissue properties of the remora fish's unique adhesion system. The researchers plan to use this information to create an engineered reversible adhesive inspired by the remora that could be used to create pain- and residue-free bandages, attach sensors to objects in aquatic or military reconnaissance environments, replace surgical clamps, and help robots climb.
Scotch tape finds new use as grasping "smart material"
November 21, 2012 7:55 am | News | CommentsScotch tape, a versatile household staple and a mainstay of holiday gift-wrapping, may have a new scientific application as a shape-changing "smart material." Researchers used a laser to form slender half-centimeter-long fingers out of the tape. When exposed to water, the four wispy fingers morph into a tiny robotic claw that captures water droplets.
Gecko feet hold clues to creating bandages that stick when wet
August 10, 2012 3:45 am | News | CommentsScientists already know that the tiny hairs on geckos' toe pads enable them to cling, like Velcro, to vertical surfaces. Now, University of Akron researchers are unfolding clues to the reptiles' gripping power in wet conditions in order to create a synthetic adhesive that sticks when moist or on wet surfaces.
Scientists gain understanding of self-cleaning gecko foot hair
June 22, 2012 6:54 am | News | CommentsImagine the money you'd save if you bought a roll of duct tape and could use it over and over again without having to toss it in the garbage after one use. Wall-climbing robots, bioadhesives, or other sticky substances can benefit greatly from a recent discovery about the self-cleaning and reuse abilities of a gecko's foot hair.
3D nano boxes self-assemble with precision
April 23, 2012 2:22 pm | by Miles O'Brien and Jon Baime, Science Nation | News | CommentsWithout any tweezers or human intervention, nano boxes and other higher-order polyhedra have been self-assembled by engineers at Johns Hopkins University and mathematicians at Brown University. The process depends on flattening the panels of the structures and relying on the interaction of thermal changes and surface tension.
Magnetic testing process could deliver more reliable electronics
April 13, 2012 9:14 am | News | CommentsThermal stress can cause debonding between thin layers in microelectronics. Taking advantage of the force generated by magnetic repulsion, researchers have developed a new technique for measuring the adhesion strength between thin films of materials used in these devices, and they hope to apply the method improve solar cells or microelectromechanical devices.
New nanoglue is thin, supersticky
March 5, 2012 10:26 am | News | CommentsEngineers at the University of California, Davis, have invented a superthin nanoglue that could be used in new-generation microchip fabrication. Conventional glues form a thick layer between two surfaces, while the new nanoglue, which conducts heat and can be printed, or applied, in patterns, forms a layer the thickness of only a few molecules.
3M adhesive helps set new Guinness World Records title
March 2, 2012 5:14 am | News | Comments3M Scotch-Weld Instant Adhesive was recently responsible for a Guinness World Records-setting feat, lifting a 8.1 metric ton forklift in the air for one hour. The successful demonstration set a new world record for the heaviest weight lifted with glue.
Inspired by gecko feet, scientists invent super-adhesive material
February 16, 2012 11:21 am | News | CommentsFor years, biologists have been amazed by the power of gecko feet, which let these lizards produce an adhesive force roughly equivalent to carrying nine pounds up a wall without slipping. Now, a team from University of Massachusetts Amherst has discovered exactly how the gecko does it, leading them to invent "Geckskin," a device that can hold 700 lbs on a smooth wall.
Manipulating way bacteria 'talk' could have practical applications
January 4, 2012 3:44 am | News | CommentsBy manipulating the way bacteria "talk" to each other, researchers at Texas A&M University have achieved an unprecedented degree of control over the formation and dispersal of biofilms—a finding with potentially significant health and industrial applications, particularly to bioreactor technology.
Bacterial attachment mimics the just-in-time industrial delivery model
November 30, 2011 10:20 am | News | CommentsIn the human world of manufacturing, many companies are now applying an on-demand, just-in-time strategy to conserve resources, reduce costs, and promote production of goods precisely when and where they are most needed. A recent study from Indiana University scientists reveals that bacteria have evolved a similar just-in-time strategy to constrain production of an extremely sticky cement to exactly the appropriate time and place, avoiding wasteful and problematic production of the material.
3M, IBM to develop new types of adhesive to create 3D semiconductors
September 8, 2011 9:24 am | News | Comments3M and IBM announced that the two companies plan to jointly develop the first adhesives that can be used to package semiconductors into densely stacked silicon "towers." The companies are aiming to create a new class of materials, which will make it possible to build, for the first time, commercial microprocessors composed of layers of up to 100 separate chips.
Wanted: 2011's Top Technologies
August 15, 2011 6:12 am | Blogs | CommentsThe editors of R&D Magazine have opened the nominations for the 2012 R&D 100 Awards competition, which will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the awards. If your organization introduced a new product this year, or is planning to, you can begin the entry process now.
Advance in microchannel manufacturing opens new industry applications
April 4, 2011 7:05 am | News | CommentsEngineers at Oregon State Univ. have invented a new way to use surface-mount adhesives in the production of low-temperature, microchannel heat exchangers—an advance that will make this promising technology much less expensive for many commercial applications.
Sticking power: New adhesive earns patent
March 23, 2011 6:58 am | News | CommentsA recently patented adhesive made by Kansas State Univ. researchers could become a staple in every astronaut's toolbox.
High Temperature Resistant, Toughened Structural Adhesive Cures at Room Temperature
January 28, 2011 8:13 am | Product Releases | CommentsFormulated for structural applications in extreme environments with temperatures from -80 degrees F to +425 degrees F, Master Bond Supreme 33 has superior resistance to thermal cycling, thermal shock and impact.
Mimicking mussels
January 27, 2011 6:25 am | News | CommentsScientists can now manufacture a synthetic version of the self-healing sticky substance that mussels use to anchor themselves to rocks in pounding ocean surf and surging tidal basins. A patent is pending on the substance, whose potential applications include use as an adhesive or coating for underwater machinery or in biomedical settings as a surgical adhesive or bonding agent for implants.
Light-curable adhesive has built-in cure indicator
January 26, 2011 7:07 am | Product Releases | CommentsDYMAX Corporation has released a new adhesive featuring a built-in cure indicator for appliance assembly and other industrial plastic-bonding applications.
Soy Materials Make a Green Mark
December 10, 2010 5:45 am | by United Soybean Board, www.soynewuses.com | Articles | CommentsSoy-based materials offer renewable green technologies to a variety of industries.
Optically clear PV adhesives stand up to harsh conditions
July 15, 2010 4:40 am | Product Releases | CommentsNuSil Technology, a manufacturer of silicone materials for the solar, photonics, electronics and aerospace industries, has recently launched two clear silicone adhesives for solar module assemblies. These adhesives are suitable for applications subject to harsh environments, such as high-power LEDs or satellites.
