Transformative adhesives

拟议的研究计划将侧重于充分了解壁虎和蜘蛛粘附在各种表面上的几何和表面特性，目标是制造具有上级性能的工程干胶。模仿壁虎独特的粘合性能，新型工程干胶将能够重复使用大量的时间，而不会留下任何残留物，并将坚持由各种材料制成的表面，并具有不同程度的粗糙度。壁虎和蜘蛛的这种粘合性能主要归因于非常特定的纳米级和微观特征，其最大化粘合剂和待粘附表面之间界面处的分子吸引力。** 将开发数学和模拟模型，以预测最佳的纳米和微观特征，从而最大限度地提高工程干胶的粘合性能。基于这些预测的功能，创新的制造工艺将开发制造纳米结构的干胶。然后，研究将调查干胶表面的功能化，以提高粘合力，同时最大限度地增加干胶的使用次数，而不降低粘合强度。最后，该研究将合并通过开发的数学和模拟模型的预测获得的知识，通过制造工艺的开发的制造能力，以及拟议的创新表面处理，以开发一种具有粘附强度的变革性干粘合剂，其粘附强度可能超过壁虎在各种不同表面上的粘附强度。** 这项研究结果的相关性是双重的。首先，该计划将促进对壁虎和蜘蛛干粘附的科学理解。我们的模型将能够充分解释为什么壁虎的脚有这样特定的几何和表面特征的原因。第二，将开发创新和专利技术，并将其应用于加拿大工业感兴趣的各种领域，包括自动化、机器人、服务、生物医学、安全和空间。

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.**