How a materials softness affects its stickyness

What is it about?

We show how changing a materials compliance (how deformable it is) changes how well it sticks to a solid wall. We use magnetism and physical immobilization of a silicone material to show how the exact same interface (silicone on glass) may require a large or a small forces to be broken. When the elastomer is immobilized it is harder to deform (it is stiff) and its interface with glass will hold a large force before failing. The exact same interface will fail under a tiny force if the elastomer is left in its naturally stretchy state. We show how this switching can create an easily controlled adhesion.

Featured Image

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This is important because most previous works aimed at switching adhesion focus on chemistry or geometry to change force levels. We open a third equivalent route for switching design.