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Surface characterization and friction of a bio-inspired reversible adhesive tape

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Abstract

A polyvinylsilixane sample fabricated to replicate biological attachment systems consisting of microscale pillars (about 230/mm2) approximately 50 μm in diameter, 70 μm in height, and 60 μm center-to-center was characterized for surface roughness, friction force, and contact angle and compared to an unstructured sample. Macroscale coefficient of kinetic friction of the structured sample was found to be almost four times greater than the unstructured sample. This increase was determined to be a result of the structured roughness of the sample and not the random nanoroughness. The structured roughness also increased the hydrophobicity of the structured sample, which is important for self cleaning to occur.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Andrei G. Peressadko of the Max Planck Institute for Metals Research, Stuttgart, Germany, for providing the samples. The authors also thank Yong-Chae Jung and Dr. Zhenhua Tao for experimental assistance and helpful discussions. SEM images were obtained by Dr. Manuel Palacio.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nanotribology Laboratory for Information Storage and MEMS/NEMS (NLIM), The Ohio State University, 650 Ackerman Road, Suite 255, Columbus, OH, 43202-1107, USA

    Bharat Bhushan & Robert A. Sayer

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  1. Bharat Bhushan
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  2. Robert A. Sayer
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Correspondence to Bharat Bhushan.

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Bhushan, B., Sayer, R.A. Surface characterization and friction of a bio-inspired reversible adhesive tape. Microsyst Technol 13, 71–78 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-006-0256-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-006-0256-2

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