Biomedical engineers Bruce Lee and Saleh Akram Bhuiyan test catechol-containing adhesives to make underwater smart glue. Credit: Sarah Bird/Michigan Tech
*:nth-child(1)>*:nth-child(6)>*:nth-child(2)>*:nth-child(1)>*:nth-child(1)>*:nth-child(1)>*:nth-child(1)” data-ae_styles=”display;block;position;static;float;none;clear;none;overflow;visible;column-count;auto;column-width;auto;column-span;none;contain;none”>With a small zap of electricity, biomedical engineers at Michigan Technological University take an underwater smart glue prototype from sticky to not in seven seconds.
Turning adhesion on and off is what makes a glue smart. It’s one thing to do this in the open air and quite another under water. Inspired by nature, catechols are synthetic compounds that mimic the wet-but-still-sticky proteins secreted by mussels and offer promise for smart adhesives that work in water. The technology could help with underwater glue, wound dressings, prosthetic attachments or even making car parts and in other manufacturing. Credit: Nicole Kelly, Sarah Bird/Michigan Tech
*:nth-child(1)>*:nth-child(6)>*:nth-child(2)>*:nth-child(1)>*:nth-child(1)>*:nth-child(1)>*:nth-child(8)” data-ae_styles=”display;block;position;static;float;none;clear;none;overflow;visible;column-count;auto;column-width;auto;column-span;none;contain;none”>Catechols for Smart Glue
A titanium sphere and a thin platinum wire act as electrodes to deliver a jolt of electricity to a catechol-containing adhesive. A Michigan Tech team has used electricity for the first time to deactivate a catechol-containing adhesive in salt water. Credit: Sarah Bird/Michigan Tech
*:nth-child(1)>*:nth-child(6)>*:nth-child(2)>*:nth-child(1)>*:nth-child(1)>*:nth-child(1)>*:nth-child(11)” data-ae_styles=”display;block;position;static;float;none;clear;none;overflow;visible;column-count;auto;column-width;auto;column-span;none;contain;none”>“The novelty is application of the electricity and the short amount of time it takes to detach,” Bhuiyan said. “What I find most unusual about the experiment is the color change. It starts white and when I apply the electricity and the material is deactivated, it oxidizes and turns a red color — and we really like to see that red color.”
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b11266
Source: SciTechDaily
