Biomimetic dry adhesives and methods of production therefor
AssigneeSimon Fraser University
InventorsCarlo MENON, Daniel Elliot SAMEOTO
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Abstract
The effectiveness of biomimetic dry adhesives at different ambient pressures is investigated. Biomimetic dry adhesives have great potential for space applications but there have been few studies on how these adhesives perform in low-pressure environments. Various geometrical configurations for cap and fiber structures of dry adhesive materials are disclosed. Various methods for manufacturing dry adhesive materials including a silicone rubber negative mold are disclosed. Various methods of manufacturing directly molded anisotropic dry adhesive structures with anisotropic peel strengths are also provided.
Claims15
A dry adhesive structure comprising a PDMS material formed by a method of manufacturing a dry adhesive structure comprising:
- applying a photoresistive material to a photosensitive mold substrate comprising polymethyl methacrylate;
- patterning and developing the photoresistive material to form a mask comprising overhanging cap structures corresponding to the dry adhesive structure, wherein the mask is substantially opaque to UV light and resistant to a substrate developer;
- exposing the polymethyl methacrylate mold substrate to UV light;
- developing the polymethyl methacrylate mold substrate to form undercut fiber structures corresponding to the dry adhesive structure;
- molding an elastomer rubber material in the mold substrate to form an elastomer rubber negative mold;
- and
- molding a flexible polymer material in the elastomer rubber negative mold to form the dry adhesive structure.
A dry adhesive structure consisting of a flexible polymer material and comprising:
- a base structure;
- a plurality of fiber structures extending from said base structure and having an aspect ratio of at least 3:1;
- and
- a plurality of cap structures corresponding to and situated atop said fiber structures wherein said cap structures substantially overhang said fiber structures on at least one side.
A method of manufacturing an anisotropic dry adhesive structure, comprising:
- applying a metallic layer to a silicon wafer mold substrate;
- applying a first photoresistive material to the mold substrate;
- applying a second photoresistive material to the mold substrate;
- patterning and developing the second photoresistive material to form a mask on the first photoresistive material defining cap structure shapes corresponding to the anisotropic dry adhesive structure;
- exposing the second photoresistive material to a first UV light and developing to form cap mold structures corresponding to the anisotropic dry adhesive structure;
- applying a third photoresistive material to the mold substrate;
- exposing the third photoresistive material to a second UV light in a pattern defining fiber structure shapes corresponding to the anisotropic dry adhesive structure;
- developing the third photoresistive material to form fiber mold structures corresponding to the anisotropic dry adhesive structure;
- and
- molding a flexible polymer material in the mold substrate to form the anisotropic dry adhesive structure comprising cap and fiber structures.
The method according to claim 50 wherein the third photoresistive material comprises an AZ9260 photoresist and the second UV light comprises 365 nm UV light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.