Electrospun aligned nanofiber adhesives with mechanical interlocks
AssigneeThe University of Akron
InventorShing-Chung Josh Wong
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dry adhesive includes a first plurality of fiber segments mechanically interlocked with a second plurality of fiber segments. A dry adhesive can include a first plurality of fibers mechanically interlocked with a second plurality of fibers or a single plurality of fibers having a first end region mechanically interlocked with a second end region. The fiber segments and fibers can be aligned, electrospun nanofibers. One or more continuous and scalable methods of making aligned fibers are also provided. One or more apparatuses are also provided.
Claims20
A method of making a dry adhesive, the method comprising
- providing a first roll having a face stock;
- dispensing the face stock from the first roll;
- allowing the face stock to move underneath an electrospinning dispenser;
- electrospinning, by the electrospinning dispenser, dry adhesive nanofibers on the face stock to thereby form a dry adhesive fiber mat on the face stock, the dry adhesive fiber mat being removable, repositionable, and reusable, and having a shear adhesion strength of 40 N/cm2 or higher and the shear adhesion strength being at least 500% higher than a normal adhesion strength of the dry adhesive fiber mat;
- wherein the electrospinning step includes electrospinning a spinnable solution including a spinnable polymer and a tackifier to thereby form the dry adhesive nanofibers;
- and
- collecting, with a second roll, the dry adhesive fiber mat on the face stock.
A method of making a dry adhesive, the method comprising
- providing a first roll, the first roll including paper;
- dispensing the paper from the first roll;
- allowing the paper to move underneath an electrospinning dispenser;
- electrospinning, by the electrospinning dispenser, dry adhesive nanofibers on the paper to thereby form a dry adhesive fiber mat on the paper, the dry adhesive fiber mat being removable, repositionable, and reusable, and having a shear adhesion strength of 40 N/cm2 or higher and the shear adhesion strength being at least 500% higher than a normal adhesion strength of the dry adhesive fiber mat;
- wherein the electrospinning step includes electrospinning a spinnable solution including a spinnable polymer and a tackifier to thereby form the dry adhesive nanofibers;
- and wherein the electrospinning dispenser provides the dry adhesive fiber mat with a fiber diameter of from 50 nanometers or more to 1000 nanometers or less;
- and
- collecting, with a second roll, the dry adhesive fiber mat on the paper.
A dry adhesive product comprising a dry adhesive fiber mat on a face stock, the dry adhesive fiber mat being removable, repositionable, and reusable, and having a shear adhesion strength of 40 N/cm2 or higher and the shear adhesion strength being at least 500% higher than a normal adhesion strength of the dry adhesive fiber mat, and the dry adhesive fiber mat comprising electrospun polymer nanofibers comprising a spinnable polymer and a tackifier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.