Smart, Moisture-Resistant Adhesive Inspired by Marine Chemistry
Abstract
Existing smart adhesives are limited by their weakened adhesive strength under moist conditions, adhesion to only a specific type of substrate, necessity for extreme conditions to debond (i.e. high temperature), and capacity to undergo cycles of reversibility. The proposed research effort aims to develop a smart adhesive that is moisture-resistant, capable of binding to a wide variety of surface substrates, rapidly responsive to externally applied stimuli, and responsive to applied electricity for interfacing with electronic devices. This last characteristic would provide users with control in tuning the interfacial binding properties of the adhesive. The proposed adhesive system would exploit the redox chemistry found in adhesive proteins secreted by mussels and sandcastle worm and be composed of dihydroxyphenyl (DHP) adhesive moieties, which can bind to both inorganic and organic surface substrates in a wet and saline environment. Additionally, DHP exhibits an order of magnitude difference in adhesive properties depending on its oxidation state (reduced form of DHP (catechol), under acidic conditions, is responsible for strong interfacial binding) and oxidized form of DHP (quinone), under basic conditions, is poorly adhesive). Boronic acid will be introduced as a protecting group to preserve the reversibility of DHP for repeated adhesive contacts by preventing the irreversible covalent crosslinking of the highly reactive, oxidized quinone form of DHP. The specific research plan consists of 3 objectives: (1) Evaluating the effect of adhesive composition and environmental factors (e.g. pH and salinity) on the interfacial binding property and the reversibility of the adhesive; (2) Constructing the adhesive in the geometry of an array of nanopillars to create a rapidly responsive smart adhesive; and (3) Determining the feasibility for applying electrochemical redox chemistry to tune the oxidation state of DHP and control the interfacial binding properties of the smart adhesive. Adhesives that provide strong, yet temporary, wet adhesion could be used to anchor and release underwater sensors and devices, and increase the mobility of automated or unmanned underwater vehicles or robots. Additionally, smart adhesives could enhance warfighter performance, and their health and recovery from injury, through better integration of wearable sensors, and the development of painlessly removable wound dressings and temporary adhesives that enable the fixation of prosthetics and implantable medical devices.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141612463
Entities
People
- Bruce P Lee
Organizations
- Michigan Technological University
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy