Dry adhesives comprised of micropores and nanopores

Abstract

A dry adhesive comprising a micro-featured and nano-featured surface, and a compliant surface having a hardness of about 60 Shore A or less, the micro-featured and nano-featured surface and the compliant surface being capable of forming upon contact a dry adhesive bond with each other.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A dry adhesive assembly comprising a first article and a second article, the first and second articles being capable of dry adhering to each other, wherein:
 the first article has a non-tacky micro-featured and nano-featured surface, said micro-featured and nano-featured surface having micropores and nanopores, said featured and nano-featured surface having a roughness average in amplitude (Ra) between about 0.2 μm and about 3.0 μm and a mean spacing of profile irregularities (RSm) between about 20 nm and about 2000 nm, and   the second article has a non-tacky compliant surface having a hardness of about 60 Shore A or less, and   upon contact of the micro-featured and nano-featured surface of the first article with the compliant surface of the second article, the compliant surface conforms with the topography of the microporous and nano-porous surface resulting in a reversible interlock of the compliant surface in the micropores and nanopores of said micro-featured and nano-featured surface, thus forming dry adhesive bond between the compliant surface and the micro-featured and nano-featured surface.   
     
     
         22 . The dry adhesive assembly of claim  1 , wherein the compliant surface has a hardness of about 45 Shore A or less. 
     
     
         23 . The dry adhesive assembly of claim  1 , wherein the compliant surface has a hardness of about 25 Shore A or more. 
     
     
         24 . The dry adhesive assembly of claim  1 , wherein the compliant surface has a hardness of between about 25 and about 45 Shore A. 
     
     
         25 . The dry adhesive assembly of claim  1 , wherein the second article is an object made of a compliant material. 
     
     
         26 . The dry adhesive assembly of claim  5 , wherein the compliant material is a silicon elastomer, a styrene-isoprene elastomer, a styrene-butadiene elastomer, a styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene elastomer, a styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene elastomer, an ethylene-butadiene-styrene elastomer, a siloxane polymer, or a poly-isocyanate. 
     
     
         27 . The dry adhesive assembly of claim  1 , wherein the second article comprises a layer of a compliant material alone or on a support. 
     
     
         28 . The dry adhesive assembly of claim  7 , wherein the support has a polymeric surface, a paper surface, or a metallic surface. 
     
     
         29 . The dry adhesive assembly of claim  7 , wherein the compliant material is a silicon elastomer, a styrene-isoprene elastomer, a styrene-butadiene elastomer, a styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene elastomer, a styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene elastomer, an ethylene-butadiene-styrene elastomer, a siloxane polymer, or a poly-isocyanate. 
     
     
         30 . The dry adhesive assembly of claim  1 , wherein the second article comprises multiples discrete areas of a compliant material spaced apart on a support. 
     
     
         31 . The dry adhesive assembly of claim  10 , wherein the support has a polymeric surface, a paper surface, or a metallic surface. 
     
     
         32 . The dry adhesive assembly of claim  10 , wherein the compliant material is a silicon elastomer, a styrene-isoprene elastomer, a styrene-butadiene elastomer, a styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene elastomer, a styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene elastomer, an ethylene-butadiene-styrene elastomer, a siloxane polymer, or a poly-isocyanate. 
     
     
         33 . The dry adhesive assembly of claim  1 , wherein the micro-featured and nano-featured surface has a roughness average in amplitude (Ra) ranging between about 0.2 μm and about 1.5 μm. 
     
     
         34 . The dry adhesive assembly of claim  13 , wherein the micro-featured and nano-featured surface has a roughness average in amplitude (Ra) ranging between about 0.25 μm and about 1.5 μm. 
     
     
         35 . The dry adhesive assembly of claim  13 , wherein the micro-featured and nano-featured surface has a roughness average in amplitude (Ra) ranging between about 0.2 μm and about 0.7 μm. 
     
     
         36 . The dry adhesive assembly of claim  1 , wherein the micro-featured and nano-featured surface has a mean spacing of profile irregularities (RSm) between about 20 nm and about 1500 nm. 
     
     
         37 . The dry adhesive assembly of claim  16 , wherein the micro-featured and nano-featured surface has a mean spacing of profile irregularities (RSm) between about 20 nm and about 500 nm. 
     
     
         38 . The dry adhesive assembly of claim  17 , wherein the micro-featured and nano-featured surface has a mean spacing of profile irregularities (RSm) between about 20 nm and about 100 nm. 
     
     
         39 . The dry adhesive assembly of claim  1 , wherein the micro-featured and nano-featured surface is a metallic surface, a glass surface, a paper surface, or a polymeric surface, said metallic surface, glass surface, paper surface and polymeric surface bearing micropores and nanopores. 
     
     
         40 . The dry adhesive assembly of claim  1 , wherein said first article comprises multiples discrete micro-featured and nano-featured areas spaced apart on a support. 
     
     
         41 . The dry adhesive assembly of claim  20 , wherein the support has a metallic surface, a glass surface, a paper surface, or a polymeric surface.