Scientists at the University of Dayton have created a peel-on, peel-off glue which mimics the wall-climbing abilities of Spiderman. The substance, based on the feet of the Gecko lizard, is three times stickier than existing adhesives.

The material is so strong that a 4×4mm pad would be enough to hold a 1.5kg object such as a hardback book. However, it’s likely too expensive for consumer use: one British scientist calculates that a single Post-it note using the glue would cost around a thousand dollars.

Of course, given the easily removable and replaceable nature of the glue, the obvious comparison is to the hands and feet of Spiderman’s outfit. The number-crunchers say that a one-inch square surface would be enough to support a 220 pound man climbing a wall, enough even if Tobey Maguire hits middle-aged spread.

The more serious uses for the material are likely to involve joining electrical components without soldering; that’s because the adhesive is made from carbon, which can conduct heat and electricity. The glue could also be useful in extremely cold temperatures, such as in space, where normal adhesives lose their power. (It might also make a good stocking filler for staff at the Large Hadron Collider.)

The glue is made from ‘nanotubes’, tiny filaments of carbon molecules, with curls of carbon at the end which expand to grip a surface. The bond comes from the nanotubes being aligned with a surface; when lifted at an angle, the bond breaks.

The design is based on the Gecko lizard, a creature known for its ability to climb sheer vertical surfaces, though the scientists say their material is 10 times stickier than that on the lizard’s feet.

The project is a combined effort of the University of Dayton, Georgia Institute of Technology, Air Force Laboratory and University of Akron.

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Entry was posted on Friday, October 10th, 2008 at 1:17 pm under Science and technology.

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