Transformative adhesives

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The proposed program of research will focus on fully understanding the geometrical and surface properties that allow geckos and spiders to adhere to a variety of surfaces, with the goal of fabricating engineered dry adhesives with superior performance. Mimicking geckos' unique adhesive properties, the novel engineered dry adhesives will be able to be re-used a large number of times without leaving any residue, and will stick to surfaces made from a wide variety of materials and having different degrees of roughness. Such adhesive properties in geckos and spiders are mainly attributed to very specific nanoscopic and microscopic features, which maximize molecular attractive forces at the interface between adhesive and the surface to be adhered to. Mathematical and simulation models will be developed to predict optimal nanoscopic and microscopic features that will maximize the adhesive properties of engineered dry adhesives. Based on these predicted features, innovative manufacturing processes will be developed to fabricate the nanoscopic structures of the dry adhesive. Research will then investigate functionalization of the dry adhesive's surface to enhance adhesion while maximizing the number of times dry adhesives can be used without decreasing adhesion strength. Finally, the research will merge the knowledge acquired through predictions of the developed mathematical and simulations models, the manufacturing capability developed through the development of the fabrication processes, and the proposed innovative surface treatments to develop a transformative dry adhesive with an adhesion strength that potentially exceeds that of a gecko on a large variety of different surfaces. The relevance of the outcome of this research is two-fold. First, the proposed program will advance the scientific understanding of dry adhesion in geckos and spiders. Our model will be able to fully explain the reasons why geckos' feet have such specific geometrical and surface features. Second, innovative and patentable technology will be developed with applications in a large variety of fields of interest to Canadian industry, including automation, robotics, servicing, biomedicine, security and Space.