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NTU Singapore scientists develop strong yet reusable adhesive from smart materials - EurekAlert

<p>Scientists from <strong>Nanyang Technological University,</strong> <strong>Singapore</strong> <strong>(NTU Singapore)</strong> have developed a smart, reusable adhesive more than ten times stronger than a gecko&rsquo;s feet adhesion, pointing the way for development of reusable superglue and grippers capable of holding heavy weights across rough and smooth surfaces.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The NTU research team, led by <strong>Professor K Jimmy Hsia</strong>, found a way to maximise the adhesion of the smart adhesives by using <strong>shape-memory polymers</strong>, which can stick and detach easily when needed simply by heating them.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Writing last month in the scientific journal <em>National Science Review</em>, the team details their breakthrough in adhesion by designing the shape-memory polymer material in the shape of hair-like fibrils.</p> <p>Please see the research video here:&nbsp;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIw5dezv2S4</p> <p>This smart adhesive can support extremely heavy weights, opening new possibilities for robotic grippers that allow humans to scale walls effortlessly, or climbing robots that can cling onto ceilings for survey or repair applications.</p>

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