When it comes to 3D printing, the sky is the limit. As 3D printing technology continues to advance, applications can be as far reaching as airplane and automobile parts to medical devices and even anatomically correct, biocompatible models. Although 3D printing technology is developing at a rapid pace, the technology itself is not new. It emerged in the 1980s as a means of creating rapid prototypes. In recent years the applications for 3D printed models have evolved with the available hardware, software, and printable materials. Evolving technology, paired with the creative and innovative minds of scientists, engineers, and physicians, has been the launching pad for developments within 3D printing technology specific to healthcare. One way 3D printing technology is poised to create better patient outcomes is in creating an anatomically and patient-specific models to aid in surgery and medical procedures. With the capability to 3D ...
Gecko lizards love hanging out on surfaces that are vertical or even tilt backward. A super-sticky adhesive on their feet allows them to hold such poses without leaving a residue. For decades, biologists and polymer chemists have tried to understand and replicate, respectively, its remarkable sticking power.
Now, a team at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, has figured out exactly how the gecko does it and they invented “Geckskin,” a device that can hold 700 pounds on a smooth surface such as glass, according to a press release from the university. Although other scientists have created gecko-inspired adhesives, none have been able to hold as much weight.
The researchers published their work and demonstrated the material’s impressive stickiness, ease of use, and reusability by sticking a 42-inch TV to a wall, released it with a “gentle tug,” and restuck it to other surfaces with no residue, according to the statement.
Other gecko-inspired adhesives depended on the qualities of setae, which are microscopic hairs on gecko toes. The adhesives worked well on small scales but did not translate well into large-scale efforts because, according to the statement, other researchers did not account for contributions of the complex system of bones, tendons, and skin in the gecko’s foot.
The UMass researchers took everything into account, and then summarized in the statement the concept that they used to create Geckskin:
The key innovation by [the UMass team] was to create an integrated adhesive with a soft pad woven into a stiff fabric, which allows the pad to ‘drape’ over a surface to maximize contact. Further, as in natural gecko feet, the skin is woven into a synthetic ‘tendon,’ yielding a design that plays a key role in maintaining stiffness and rotational freedom, the researchers explain.Importantly, the Geckskin’s adhesive pad uses simple everyday materials such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which holds promise for developing an inexpensive, strong and durable dry adhesive.
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