Electronically reversible adhesive systems
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsKeith Daniel Humfeld, Scott D. Hartshorn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An adhesive system for attachment to a contact surface of an object comprises a backing, carbon nanotubes, charged nanoparticles, and an electrical source. The carbon nanotubes each have a first end region and a second end region, opposite the first end region. Each of the charged nanoparticles is coupled to the second end region of at least one of the carbon nanotubes. The electrical source is configured to selectively electrically charge the backing to cause an electrical repulsion force between the backing and the charged nanoparticles. The first end region of each of the carbon nanotubes is coupled to the backing. The second end region of each of a number of the carbon nanotubes is coupled to none of the charged nanoparticles.
Claims22
An adhesive system for attachment to a contact surface of an object , the adhesive system comprising:
- a backing;
- carbon nanotubes, each having a first end region and a second end region, opposite the first end region;
- charged nanoparticles, each coupled to the second end region of at least one of the carbon nanotubes;
- and
- an electrical source, configured to selectively electrically charge the backing to cause an electrical repulsion force between the backing and the charged nanoparticles;
- and wherein:
- the first end region of each of the carbon nanotubes is coupled to the backing;
- each of the charged nanoparticles has a nanoparticle net electrical charge;
- each of the charged nanoparticles has an insulating shell to electrically isolate the nanoparticle net electrical charge at least from the carbon nanotubes;
- and
- the second end region of each of a number of the carbon nanotubes is coupled to none of the charged nanoparticles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.