Adhesion characteristics of PDMS surfaces during repeated pull-off force measurements

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Date
2010
Volume
12
Issue
5
Journal
Series Titel
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Publisher
Hoboken, NJ : Wiley
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Abstract

To mimic the adhesive effects of gecko toes, artificial surfaces have been manufactured recently using polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS). However, the effects of repeated contacts on the adhesive properties remain largely unexplored. In this paper we report on the effect of repeated pull-off force measurements on the adhesion behavior of PDMS (polymer kit Sylgard 184, Dow Corning) tested with a borosilicate glass probe. A decrease in pull-off force with increase in number of test cycles is found until a plateau is reached. The initial value and the rate of change in pull-off force strongly depend on the sample preparation procedure, including curing time and cross-linking. It is proposed that the behavior is due to steady coverage of the probe with free oligomers. The results are crucial for developing reusable, durable, and residue-free bioinspired adhesives.

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Keywords
PDMS, adhesion, gecko, bioinspired, JKR, Material transfer
Citation
Kroner, E., Arzt, E., & Maboudian, R. (2010). Adhesion characteristics of PDMS surfaces during repeated pull-off force measurements. 12(5). https://doi.org//10.1002/adem.201000090
License
CC BY-ND 3.0 DE