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A Spider-Silk-Inspired Wet Adhesive with Supercold Tolerance
Xi Liu1,2, Lianxin Shi1, Xizi Wan1,2
1CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|March 4, 2021
Summary
This study introduces a spider-silk-inspired wet adhesive (SA) that excels in humid and cryogenic conditions. Its unique nanostructure ensures robust adhesion across a wide temperature range, overcoming limitations of conventional adhesives.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomimetics
- Adhesion Science
Background:
- Conventional adhesives often fail in humid environments due to water interference.
- Spider silks demonstrate remarkable prey capture capabilities in wet conditions.
- Developing robust wet adhesives is crucial for various technological applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer a spider-silk-inspired wet adhesive (SA) with enhanced performance in challenging environments.
- To investigate the adhesion mechanism of the novel SA under diverse conditions.
- To explore the potential of the SA for applications in cryogenic settings.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of core-sheath nanostructured fibers using polyurethane (nanocore) and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (nanosheath).
- In situ macro- and microscopic observations to elucidate the dissolving-wetting-adhering process.
- Adhesion testing on various substrates under humid, cold, and cryogenic (-196 °C) conditions, including dynamic stress tests.
Main Results:
- The spider-silk-inspired adhesive (SA) exhibits robust adhesion through a unique dissolving-wetting-adhering mechanism.
- The SA maintains reliable adhesion on wet and cold surfaces from 4 °C down to -196 °C.
- The material demonstrates tolerance to splashing, shaking, and load-bearing in liquid nitrogen.
Conclusions:
- The developed spider-silk-inspired adhesive offers a novel solution for high-performance wet adhesion.
- The core-sheath nanostructure and hygroscopic nanosheath are key to the SA's superior performance.
- This research presents a promising pathway for designing advanced adhesives for extreme environments, including cryogenic applications.
