Microstructure arrangement for gripping low coefficient of friction materials

A microstructure arrangement for gripping a low coefficient of friction material comprising:

• a substrate disposed on a gripping surface wherein the substrate has a higher Young's modulus than the low coefficient of friction material to be gripped;
• a first set of pillars disposed on the substrate with each pillar having a cross section area in the range of 10 μm2 to 400 μm2, a height relative to the substrate in the range of 10 μm to 400 μm, and a pitch determined from the center of the pillars in the range of 20 μm to 1000 μm;
• a second set of pillars disposed on said first set of pillars with each pillar of said second set of pillars having a cross section area less than that of the pillars in said first set of pillars;
• wherein said second set of pillars are defined by pillars each having a cross section width from 0.5 μm to 100 μm, a height of from 1 μm to 100 μm, and a pitch determined from the center of the second set of pillars in the range of 1 μm to 200 μm;
• wherein said first and second set of pillars are configured to cooperate to have the physical property of a grip force in excess of 50.0N with a contact area of 25% or less, as determined by the friction testing method;
• and,
• wherein said first and second set of pillars are configured to cooperate to have a coefficient of friction in the range of about 0.7 to about 1.4.