Process, Design and Materials for Unidirectionally Tilted Polymeric Micro/Nanohairs and Their Adhesion Characteristics

• Published in: Polymers Vol. 8; no. 9; p. 326
• Main Authors: Im, Hyeon Seong, Kim, Jong Uk, Han, Sungwon, Kim, Tae-Il
• Format: Journal Article Book Review
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 02.09.2016; MDPI
• Subjects: adhesiveless transfer printing; climbing robotics; gecko-like dry adhesive; high aspect ratio polymeric nanostructure; Review; unidirectionally tilted structures; adhesiveless transfer printing; high aspect ratio polymeric nanostructure; climbing robotics; gecko-like dry adhesive; unidirectionally tilted structures
• ISSN: 2073-4360; 2073-4360
• DOI: 10.3390/polym8090326

Recent research in the field of gecko-inspired dry adhesive has focused on modifying the material and structural properties of polymer-based nanohairs. Polymers such as polystyrene (PS), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), ultraviolet curable epoxy (SU-8), polyurethane acrylate (PUA), polycarbonate (PC), and polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) can fulfill many mechanical property requirements, are easily tunable, and can be produced via large-scale fabrication. However, the fabrication process for tilted structure remains challenging. The tilted structure is a crucial factor in high-degree conformal contact, which facilitates high adhesion, low effective modulus, and directional adhesion properties. Recent studies have attempted to create a tilted structure by applying beam irradiation, mechanical and thermal stress, and magnetic fields. This review provides a comprehensive investigation into advanced strategies for producing tilted polymeric nanostructures and their potential applications in the near future.