Bionics: hygroscopic adhesive from the spider's web
- Details
- Hits: 6692
Interfacial moisture can cause problems when glued outdoors or in damp environments. Of the Industry association adhesives (IVK) uses a model from nature or bionics dass adhesives and moisture can also harmonize well with one another. They orientate themselves on that Principle of spider webs. Spiders hold their prey in their webs, even when the humidity is high or it is even raining.
Kick Interfacial moisture the connection between two surfaces such as tiles and adhesive loosens and the tiles fall off. The example from bionics shows that this does not have to be the case. The spiders use a special glue that they distribute drop by drop onto the silky threads of their webs. A team of researchers from the University of Akron in the USA has now investigated the secret of the adhesive.
Bionic robot arm for human-robot collaboration
They came to the conclusion that the Glue of the spiders composed of three elements - two glycoproteins, which consist of amino acid and sugar molecules, a collection of low molecular weight organic and inorganic compounds, also called hygroscopic molecules, and water.
Bionic adhesive effect revealed
The Glycoproteins are responsible for the adhesive effect that hygroscopic molecules assume a previously unknown function, which the researchers have decoded. They bind accumulated water and pull it into the mass. The adhesive force between the adhesive and the surface remains. Together, glycoproteins and hygroscopic molecules achieve good adhesion of the spider prey to the web, even under moist conditions.
Dispenser for anaerobic adhesives tested in long-term tests
The knowledge gained is a nice basis for bionics. Engineers can incorporate this into the development of moisture-resistant adhesives. Structures that are used in a damp environment could be connected with an adhesive based on this natural principle.
You might also be interested in...
