Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems have created a reversible adhesive that can be controlled with a slight shift in temperature.
Gallium, a silver metal "that is solid at low temperatures and melts at 85.56 degrees Fahrenheit" was used to create this reversible adhesive. By adding gallium in liquid form between two separate objects and then cooling it, the metal solidifies and therefore acts like a glue between the two objects. The reversible aspect of this glue comes when the temperature of it is brought back up. This prevents the use of force when taking apart objects that have been glued together and could prevent potential damage.
The reversible adhesive can be used repeatedly and potential applications for it include "transfer printing, temporary wafer bonding and moving sensitive biological samples such as tissues and organs."
Metal Reversible Adhesives
Researchers Created Glue That Can Be Used on Temporary Basis
Trend Themes
1. Reversible Adhesives - The development of reversible adhesives offers opportunities for reusable and damage-free bonding solutions.
2. Temperature-controlled Glue - The use of temperature as a control mechanism for adhesives offers opportunities for precision and repeatability in adhesion processes.
3. Gallium-based Adhesives - The use of gallium in adhesives offers opportunities for novel and versatile bonding solutions with unique material properties.
Industry Implications
1. Manufacturing - Reversible adhesives can be used in manufacturing processes for temporary bonding, transfer printing, and other applications, potentially streamlining and improving efficiency.
2. Biotechnology - Temperature-controlled adhesives could be used for moving delicate biological samples such as tissues and organs, offering a non-invasive alternative to traditional bonding methods that can damage samples.
3. Electronics - The use of gallium-based adhesives in electronics could provide unique bonding solutions for miniaturized components, potentially enabling new manufacturing techniques and product designs.