Remote activation of thermo-reversible dry adhesives
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsYang T. Cheng, Tao Xie, Xingcheng Xiao, John C. Ulicny, Hamid G. Kia
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermo-reversible dry adhesive, having shape memory polymer characteristics, introduces one or more particles of micro- or nano-particles to at least one layer of the at least one layer of shape memory polymer. These particles may be remotely activated to induct heat sufficient to transform the dry adhesive material from its temporary shape to its permanent shape in the absence of load, which allows the dry adhesive to be reversibly coupled to one or more substrates, wherein the degree of adhesion is greater when the dry adhesive is in the temporary shape than in the permanent shape.
Claims20
A dry adhesive material capable of transformation between a permanent shape and a temporary shape, the dry adhesive material comprising:
- at least one layer of an elastomeric material;
- and
- at least one layer of a shape memory polymer material, where at least one layer of said shape memory polymer material includes one or more particles of micro- or nano-meter diameter, said one or more particles capable of being remotely activated to induct heat sufficient to transform the dry adhesive material between the permanent shape and the temporary shape.
A method comprising:
- providing a first substrate;
- forming at least one layer of an elastomeric material;
- forming at least one layer of a shape memory polymer, wherein at least one layer of said shape memory polymer material includes one or more particles of micro- or nano-meter diameter;
- coupling said at least one layer of said elastomeric material to said at least one layer of said shape memory polymer to form a dry adhesive, said dry adhesive transformable from a permanent shape to a temporary shape;
- transforming said dry adhesive from said permanent shape to said temporary shape in the presence of a load;
- removing said load;
- coupling said first substrate to said dry adhesive in said temporary shape;
- remotely activating said one or more particles to induce heat sufficient to transform said dry adhesive from temporary shape to said permanent shape;
- and
- uncoupling said first substrate from said dry adhesive.
A method comprising:
- providing a first substrate;
- forming at least one layer of an elastomeric material;
- forming at least one layer of a shape memory polymer, wherein at least one layer of said shape memory polymer material includes one or more particles of micro- or nano-meter diameter;
- coupling said at least one layer of said elastomeric material to said at least one layer of said shape memory polymer to form a dry adhesive, said dry adhesive transformable from a permanent shape to a temporary shape;
- remotely activating said one or more particles to induce heat sufficient to transform said dry adhesive from said permanent shape to said temporary shape in the presence of a load;
- removing said load;
- and
- coupling said first substrate to said dry adhesive in said temporary shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.