Fabrication of Polymer Particle Adhesives for Multi-material Joining

Abstract

There are plenty of adhesive supra-structures in nature. For instance, geckos have a number of submicron-sized fibers on their feet, which allow it to stick and adhere strongly along the contour of the surface. This structure makes it possible for geckos to show strong adhesiveness to various surfaces. Inspired by such adhesion mechanism derived from micro- and nano-structures, I aimed to create a multi-layered gel membrane possessing surface adhesiveness and followability. The layer-by-layer deposition of gel particles via a polymer complex was carried out onto the gel base to create 3D gel structures. By tuning the type and the number of the layer-by-layer deposition, I could modulate elasticity and surface followability of the gel membrane to improve its adhesiveness.

Graphical Abstract