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Article #169: Super Adhesive May Have Many Industrial Uses - Learning from Geckos

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Science works fast, especially when it doesn't feel sticky to the touch.
comes to adhesives. A few years back, the The secret is in the structure of
BBC Wildlife magazine published a little Synthetic Gecko. The polyamide surface is
story on gecko lizards. They referred to covered with millions of mushroom like
the little creatures as cling kings stalks that mimic the tiny cups on the
because they're known to cling to pads of gecko feet called setae. This
surfaces even when the surface is held isn't the first adhesive made to mimic
upside down. The year was 2002, and the gecko foot. Back in 2003, a group of
scientists were just beginning to Manchester researchers produced a similar
speculate that the trick wasn't in what product which they called 'gecko tape'.
appeared to be little suction cups on They demonstrated the effectiveness of
their toes and feet as had always been the new dry adhesive by suspending a toy
believed. In fact, the scientists action figure of superhero Spiderman from
continued, those little suction pads were a ceiling. They'd considered suspending a
too small to generate enough suction to human, one of the team admitted, but the
adhere them to any surface. No, suction amount needed would have been far too
didn't account for the adhesive quality costly to produce.
of the little gecko. The Bristol team at BAE Systems has
Nor, apparently, did capillary action, worked their way around the cost by using
nor static electricity. In fact, the a modified version of the process used to
article concluded, the gecko sticks to make silicon chips to create the tiny
surfaces by molecular adhesion. And that setae on the polymer surface. The process
adhesive is strong. Scientists estimate is well-known and understood, and can be
that a gecko's adhesive would stay done cheaply to run up to a very large
adhered to the ceiling even if it were scale, making production of Synthetic
wearing a 40kg rucksack on its back. Over Gecko a financially viable proposition.
the past several years, scientists in Needless to say, this gecko like glue is
various industrial adhesives laboratories causing quite a stir in the industrial
have been trying to figure out exactly adhesives industry. The possibilities for
how this effect works, and how to its use as an industrial adhesive are
duplicate it. Now it appears that it's broad. Already there is speculation that
been done. Scientists at BAE Systems, an it could be used to attach aeroplane
aeronautics and defence firm, have wings, make skin graft or create
created an adhesive that they call Spiderman like suits that would let
Synthetic Gecko, and that others are window-washers scramble up the sides of
referring to as 'gecko glue'. buildings without the use of a ladder.
The gecko adhesive is made of polymer, Imagine super grip tyres, safety
and is reusable, say the scientists who harnesses and instant repair patches for
developed the stuff. And it's strong - nearly anything. The uses are still
just one metre square of the industrial potentially years off, say most
adhesive could hang your family's car scientists, and even then Synthetic gecko
from the ceiling of your kitchen. It will is unlikely to replace other types of
stick to just about anything, including industrial adhesives. Each has its own
dirty surfaces, and it will stay stuck use and its own unique advantages and
until it's peeled off - at which point, disadvantages. Still, the possibilities
it can be reapplied without losing any of are profound for the new dry adhesive.
its adhesive qualities or power. There From medicine to construction, it may
are stronger glues out there, scientists offer a great many changes in the way
admit, but this one is reusable, and it that things are stuck together.






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