Use of Shear to Incorporate Tilt into the Microstructure of Reversible Gecko-Inspired Adhesives

Abstract

The present invention relates to an easy, scalable method, relying on conventional and unconventional techniques, to incorporate tilt in the fabrication of synthetic polymer-based dry adhesives mimicking the gecko adhesive system. These dry, reversible adhesives demonstrate anisotropic adhesion properties, providing strong adhesion and friction forces when actuated in the gripping direction and an initial repulsive normal force and negligible friction when actuated in the releasing direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adhesive comprising:
 a base;   a pillar wherein said pillar is in the shape of a triangular prism wherein said triangular prism has one longer edge and two shorter edges and wherein said pillar has a first end and a second end wherein said first end is attached to said base; and   a pad-like structure, wherein said pad-like structure is rectangular in shape, is attached to said second end of said pillar and wherein said rectangular pad-like structure is biased toward said longer edge of said triangular prism.   
     
     
         2 . The adhesive of  claim 1 , wherein said triangular-prism shaped pillar is tilted at an angle. 
     
     
         3 . The adhesive of  claim 2 , wherein said angle is about 60°-90°. 
     
     
         4 . The adhesive of  claim 1 , wherein said pillar is one of a plurality of pillars, and wherein said plurality of pillars are arranged in a rectangular lattice. 
     
     
         5 . The adhesive of  claim 4 , wherein said rectangular lattice has a center-to-center distance in a first direction of about 40 μm and a center-to-center distance along a second direction of about 30 μm.