Adhesive microstructure and method of forming same

• US 7,229,685 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2003
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Autumn, Kellar, Kenny, Thomas W., Full, Robert J., Fearing, Ronald S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray; Jill
• Application Number:
  US10/655,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20050072509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 428/397, 428/400, 428/401
• US Class Current: 428/343
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/31 the adhesive effect being based on a Gecko structure
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 5/00 Adhesive processes in general; Adhesive processes not provided for elsewhere, e.g. relating to primers
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/00 Adhesives in the form of films or foils
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 19/04 Measuring adhesive force between materials, e.g. of sealing tape, of coating
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0025 Shearing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0286 Miniature specimen; Testing on microregions of a specimen
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0623 using piezoelectric gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/24 by applying steady shearing forces G01N3/26, G01N3/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/28 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and having an adhesive outermost layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2973 Particular cross section
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2976 Longitudinally varying
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2978 Surface characteristic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/298 Physical dimension

Abstract

A method of forming an adhesive force includes removing a seta from a living specimen, attaching the seta to a substrate, and applying the seta to a surface so as to establish an adhesive force between the substrate and the surface. The seta is applied to the surface with a force perpendicular to the surface. The seta is then pulled with a force parallel to the surface so as to preload the adhesive force of the seta.

Claims

1. A fabricated microstructure comprising:

a shaft, the shaft having a diameter of between 0.01 and 0.1 times the length of the shaft; and

a protrusion at an end of the shaft, the protrusion capable of providing a substantially normal adhesive force at a surface of between about 20 and 8,000 nano-Newtons by intermolecular forces.

2. The fabricated microstructure of claim 1 wherein the shaft is flexible.

3. The fabricated microstructure of claim 1 wherein the shaft has a diameter of about 0.05 times the length of the shaft.

4. The fabricated microstructure of claim 1 wherein the shaft has a length of between about 10 and 100 microns.

5. The fabricated microstructure of claim 1, wherein the length of the shaft is 500 micrometers or less.

6. The fabricated microstructure of claim 5, wherein the length of the shaft is between 1 and 500 micrometers.

7. The fabricated microstructure of claim 6, wherein the length of the shaft is between 10 and 100 micrometers.

8. A fabricated microstructure comprising:

a shaft; and

a plurality of protrusions disposed at the end of the shaft each protrusion capable of providing an adhesive force at a surface of between about 1.00 and 200 nano-Newtons.

9. The fabricated microstructure of claim 8, wherein the shaft has a diameter of between 0.01 and 0.1 times the length of the shaft, and wherein the length of the shaft is 500 micrometers or less.

10. The fabricated microstructure of claim 9, wherein the length of the shaft is between 1 and 500 micrometers.

11. The fabricated microstructure of claim 10, wherein the length of the shaft is between 10 and 100 micrometers.

12. The fabricated microstructure of claim 8, wherein the shaft has a diameter that is approximately 0.05 times the length of the shaft.

13. A fabricated microstructure comprising:

a shaft; and

a plurality of protrusions disposed at the of the shaft, each protrusion capable of providing a shear force at a surface of between about 5.00 and 2,000 nano-Newtons.

14. The fabricated microstructure of claim 13, wherein the shaft has a diameter of between 0.01 and 0.1 times the length of the shaft, and wherein the length of the shaft is 500 micrometers or less.

15. The fabricated microstructure of claim 14, wherein the length of the shaft is between 1 and 500 micrometers.

16. The fabricated microstructure of claim 15, wherein the length of the shaft is between 10 and 100 micrometers.

17. The fabricated microstructure of claim 13, wherein the shaft has a diameter that is approximately 0.05 times the length of the shaft.

18. A fabricated microstructure comprising:

a shaft; and

a plurality of protrusions disposed at the end of the shaft, each protrusion capable of providing a substantially normal adhesive force at a surface of between about 20 and 8,000 nano-Newtons.

19. The fabricated microstructure of claim 18 wherein the adhesive force is at least about 12 times a preload force.

20. The fabricated microstructure of claim 18 wherein the adhesive force is engaged by a probed force.

21. The fabricated microstructure of claim 18 wherein the adhesive force is engaged by a shear displacement.

22. The fabricated microstructure of claim 18 wherein the adhesive force is engaged by a shear displacement in a first direction, and not engaged by a shear displacement substantially opposite to the first direction.

23. The fabricated microstructure of claim 18 wherein the adhesive force is engaged by a shear displacement in a first direction, and subsequently released by a shear displacement in the opposite direction.

24. The fabricated microstructure of claim 18, wherein the shaft has a diameter of between 0.01 and 0.1 times the length of the shaft, and wherein the length of the shaft is 500 micrometers or less.

25. The fabricated microstructure of claim 24, wherein the length of the shaft is between 1 and 500 micrometers.

26. The fabricated microstructure of claim 25, wherein the length of the shaft is between 10 and 100 micrometers.

27. The fabricated microstructure of claim 18, wherein the shaft has a diameter that is approximately 0.05 times the length of the shaft.

28. A fabricated microstructure comprising:

a shaft, the shaft having a diameter of between 0.01 and 0.1 times the length of the shaft; and

a protrusion at an end of the shaft, the protrusion capable of providing a substantially parallel adhesive force at a surface of between about 5.00 and 2,000 nano-Newtons.

29. The fabricated microstructure of claim 28, wherein the diameter of the shaft is approximately 0.05 times the length of the shaft.