Methods for forming nanofiber adhesive structures
First Claim
1. A method for forming a nanofiber adhesive structure, the method comprising:
- providing a structure comprising a plurality of fiber bundles in a first binder, the plurality of fiber bundles comprising a plurality of fibers in a second binder;
dissolving a portion of the first binder from the structure to expose end portions of the plurality of fiber bundles having a first length using a first solvent;
dissolving a portion of the second binder from the structure to expose end portions of the plurality of fibers having a second length using a second solvent; and
wherein the first binder is generally insoluble by the second solvent and the second binder is generally insoluble by the first solvent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for forming a nanofiber adhesive structure includes, in one embodiment, providing a plurality of generally parallel fiber bundles secured in a first binder and in which each of the fiber bundles includes a plurality of generally parallel fibers secured in a second binder. The fibers have a diameter between about 200 nanometers to about 400 nanometers. A portion of the first binder is dissolved from the structure to expose end portions of the plurality of fiber bundles having a length of about 100 microns. A portion of the second binder of the exposed end portions of the plurality of fiber bundle is dissolved to expose the fibers having a length of about 15 microns. Thin slices may be made and assembled on a web to provide a gecko tape having adhesive properties based on Van der Waals forces.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for forming a nanofiber adhesive structure, the method comprising:
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providing a structure comprising a plurality of fiber bundles in a first binder, the plurality of fiber bundles comprising a plurality of fibers in a second binder; dissolving a portion of the first binder from the structure to expose end portions of the plurality of fiber bundles having a first length using a first solvent; dissolving a portion of the second binder from the structure to expose end portions of the plurality of fibers having a second length using a second solvent; and wherein the first binder is generally insoluble by the second solvent and the second binder is generally insoluble by the first solvent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for forming a nanofiber adhesive structure, the method comprising:
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forming a plurality of parallel fiber bundles and a first binder into a structure, the plurality of fiber bundles comprising a plurality of fibers in a second binder; cutting the structure across the fiber bundles, the first binder, and the second binder; dissolving a portion of the first binder from the structure to expose end portions of the plurality of fiber bundles having a first length using a first solvent; and dissolving a portion of the second binder from the structure to expose end portions of the plurality of fibers having a second length using a second solvent; and wherein the second length being less than the first length, and the first binder is generally insoluble by the second solvent and the second binder is generally insoluble by the first solvent. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for forming a nanofiber adhesive structure, the method comprising:
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providing a structure comprising a plurality of generally parallel fiber bundles in a first binder, the fiber bundle comprising a plurality of generally parallel fibers in a second binder, and the plurality of fibers comprising a diameter less than about 400 nanometers; dissolving a portion of the first binder from the structure to expose end portions of the plurality of fiber bundles having a first length using a first solvent of about 100 microns; dissolving a portion of the second binder from the structure to expose end portions of the plurality of fibers having a second length using a second solvent of about 15 microns; and wherein the first binder is generally insoluble by the second solvent and the second binder is generally insoluble by the first solvent. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification