Geckos Inspire Novel Glue

 


Geckos have hydrophilic mechanisms on the bottom of their feet to allow easy movement on slick or moist surfaces. Scientists are studying animals like this and are searching for a solution to slip and falls. They have found that using silicone rubber augmented with zirconia nanoparticles creates a slip resistant polymer. The material sticks to ice and could be incorporated into shoes.

The team published their study in ACS applied materials and interfaces.

According to the world health organization, slip and fall accident account for more than 38 million injuries and 684,000 deaths each year. Almost 50% of these accidents are on ice. Contemporary anti-slip technology involves natural rubber that repels liquid away from the pavement on a rainy day. On icy sidewalks, these type of rubber souls can cause the ice to melt beneath the pressure from the shoe wearer. This creates a slippery layer the shoes are designed to protect against.

 Gecko feet have inspired anti-slip polymers in the past. The previous studies found that the gecko’s footpads slickness comes from hydrophilic capillary enhanced adhesion. This is the force of water being drawn into the narrow grooves in the foot pad. The force creates a suction that helps the lizard on slippery surfaces.

Ashis Tripathy, Md Julker Nine and Vipin Richhariya develop a polymer with capillary enhanced adhesion that works on both rainy and icy sidewalks. Scientists added zirconia nanoparticles to silicone rubber. This makes the material attract water molecules. The scientist rolled the composite material into a thin film and then they hardened it with heat. The team used a laser to etch a groove in the film surface that exposed the hydrophilic zirconium nanomaterial.  

The team found the novel film would stick to the slippery surfaces. The team used different proportions by weight of zirconia nanoparticles, 1%, 3%, 5%, 7% and 9%. The scientists used infrared spectroscopy and mocked up a few friction tests. The team discovered that most slip resistant nanocomposites have between 3 to 5% zirconia and nanoparticles by weight.

 This research suggests that both electronic skin and artificial skin could benefit in the future, thanks in part to the study. 

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