GOALI: Biomimetic Design of Fibrillar Interfaces for Adhesion, Tribology, and other Surface Properties

在蜥蜴和昆虫中，自然界已经进化出了表面结构，以控制粘附力、摩擦学和其他人造材料中没有的表面特性。 例如，蜥蜴使用相对坚硬的材料粘附在各种粗糙和光滑表面上的能力是显着的。 与不确定表面接触和普遍粘附的一个共同特征是使用具有板状刮刀末端元件的分层纤维状结构，其中基于物种存在重要变化。 最近的研究表明，其独特的表面特性，如粘附力，摩擦学和可重复使用性，来自优化的建筑设计。该项目旨在开发具有纤维状界面的材料，以模仿蜥蜴和昆虫的表面结构。这项工作由三名学术研究人员与杜邦公司的一个工业研究小组密切合作共同进行。 他们的工作需要几个学科的影响。 生物学研究是为了研究大自然进化的设计细节和她使用的材料。 研究人员开发理论模型，以了解材料特性和结构如何与性能相关。 需要理解的现象是由这些材料提供的增强的接触顺应性，由于诸如在表面力的影响下的侧向塌陷的现象而引起的约束，以及在界面分离期间增强能量耗散的机制。 这些被转换成仿生结构的设计标准。 研究人员根据这些设计标准使用微光刻技术制造纤维状结构，并测试其作为具有有用特性的表面的性能。如果最终目标成功，该计划将为社会提供一种全新的紧固件材料。 诸如单侧性、可重复使用性、低速率依赖性和设计的方向性的预期特性形成了现有紧固件（例如，压敏粘合剂和钩/环紧固件（例如，维可牢尼龙搭扣））无法获得的独特集合。 我们预计这种新材料将在服装、半导体处理和机器人等各种应用中得到应用。 该项目将培养研究生以高度跨学科的方式工作。 它平衡了高科学质量和培训与工业相关性和兴趣。

Abstract 0527785Among lizards and insects, Nature has evolved surface structures for controlled adhesion, tribology, and other surface properties that have no counterparts among man-made materials. The ability of lizards, for example, to adhere to a variety of rough and smooth surfaces using relatively stiff materials is remarkable. A common feature for contact and universal adhesion against an indeterminate surface, with important variations based on species, is the use of a hierarchical fibrillar structure with a plate-like spatular terminal element. It appears from recent studies that its unique surface properties, such as adhesion, tribology, and re-usability, result from optimized architectural design. This project aims to develop materials with fibrillar interfaces that mimic surface structures in lizards and insects.This work is being conducted jointly by three academic researchers working in close collaboration with an industrial research group at the DuPont Company. Their work requires the influence of several disciplines. Biological studies are undertaken to examine the details of the designs Nature has evolved and the materials she uses. The investigators develop theoretical models to understand how materials properties and architecture relate to performance. Phenomena that need to be understood are the enhanced contact compliance offered by these materials, constraints due to phenomena such as lateral collapse under the influence of surface forces, and mechanisms by which energy dissipation is enhanced during interfacial separation. These are converted into design criteria for biomimetic structures. The investigators fabricate fibrillar structures based on these design criteria using micro-lithographic techniques and test their performance as surfaces with useful properties.If successful in its ultimate aim, this program will provide society with an entirely new class of fastener materials. Anticipated properties, such as one-sidedness, re-usability, low rate-dependence, and designed directionality, form a unique set not accessible by extant fasteners, for example, pressure sensitive adhesives and hook/loop fasteners (e.g. Velcro). We expect the new material will find use in applications as diverse as apparel, semiconductor handling, and robotics. The project will train graduate students to work in a highly interdisciplinary manner. It balances high scientific quality and training with industrial relevance and interest.