Controlling peel strength of micron-scale structures

• US 8,815,385 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2005
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lewis & Clark College, Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Lewis & Clark College, Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Fearing, Ronald, Autumn, Kellar
• Primary Examiner(s): Blackwell, Gwendolyn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Frost, Anthony J
• Application Number:
  US11/143,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20060078725A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,373 Days
• Field of Search: 424/65, 156/60, 428/343, 430/330, 510/190, 244/42
• US Class Current: 428/323
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 1/00111 Tips, pillars, i.e. raised structures microneedles A61M37/0015
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 1/00206 Processes for functionalising a surface, e.g. provide the surface with specific mechanical, chemical or biological properties
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/31 the adhesive effect being based on a Gecko structure
• 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 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles

Abstract

A fabricated microstructure includes a base and one or more nano-structures disposed on one or more portions of the base to adhere to a contact surface. The one or more portions of the base with the one or more nano-structures are located on the base such that, when the one or more nano-structures adhere to the contact surface and an external force is applied to peel the base from the contact surface, the one or more nano-structures in the one or more portions of the base facilitate or resist peeling of the nano-structures from the contact surface.

Claims

1. A fabricated microstructure, comprising:

a substrate; and

an array of seta structures configured to adhere to a contact surface by van der Waals forces between the array of seta structures and the contact surface, wherein the array of seta structures are disposed on the substrate in opposing orientation to resist peeling when the array of seta structures adhere to the contact surface.

2. The fabricated microstructure of claim 1, wherein each seta structure of the array of seta structures include one or more spatula structures disposed on one or more portions of each seta structure of the array of seta structures, and wherein the one or more spatula structures adhere to the contact surface by van der Waals forces.

3. The fabricated microstructure of claim 2, wherein spatula structures disposed on each seta structure of the array of seta structures are oriented in the same direction or opposing directions.

5. The fabricated microstructure of claim 1, wherein the an array of seta structures is configured to adhere to a contact surface by van der Waals forces between the array of seta structures and the contact surface, and without a microinterlocking structure disposed on the contact surface.

4. A fabricated microstructure, comprising:

a substrate; and

an array of seta structures configured to adhere by van der Waals forces to a contact surface by van der Waals forces between the array of seta structures and the contact surface, wherein the array of seta structures are disposed on the substrate in opposing orientation to resist peeling when the array of seta structures adhere to the contact surface;

wherein the array of nano-structures is configured to adhere to a contact surface by van der Waals forces between the array of nano-structures and the contact surface, and without a microinterlocking structure disposed on the contact surface.