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Method for Stiffness Controlled Adhesive Switching and Magnetically Controlled Switchable Adhesive Systems - Available Technologies - NDSU Research Foundation

Method for Stiffness Controlled Adhesive Switching and Magnetically Controlled Switchable Adhesive Systems

DESCRIPTION

There is a need for a reversible adhesion system that works without peel or stretch. Recently, it was demonstrated that the force capacity of an adhesive depends on the rigidity of the adhesive material used. Researchers at NDSU have developed a general method to control the stiffness of the material, enabling a switchable adhesive system for low and high adhesive states. This method allows the concept of repeatable adhesion of sticky notes to be applied to more rigid materials such as plastic, glass, metal, wood, or composites. The NDSU technology is focused on the backing layer of the adhesion system. This allows the technology to be incorporated with existing reversible adhesives without the need to modify the adhesive layer chemistry. This technology can easily be customized to operate on a variety of surfaces and supplement immediate customer needs.

Benefits

Enable multiple rounds of adhesion and release of rigid items.
Suitable for a variety of surfaces such as walls, ceilings, floors, shelves, etc.
Ease of application
Compatible with currently available 'releasable' adhesives
Compatible with a wide range of backing materials
Suitable for short- and long-term attachments

Phase of Development:

This technology has completed laboratory testing with reproducible results.

Example of 'Switch' mechanism:

In theory, this could be implemented using any process that changes a backing between more rigid and less rigid states. A few examples:

A frame that creates and reverses rigidity by pulling edges of a backing material
A frame that switches from locked 90° corners (rigid) to a diamond shape (flexible)
Filling an inflatable backing with liquid or air