There are many adhesive applications such as wall mounts, medical skin patches, transfer printing, and assembly line robotics which require adhesion systems to both grip and to release easily. State-of-the-art solutions such as vacuum-based handling systems or the pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA) used in tapes are costly or have geometric limitations in their applicability. For example, PSAs typically have a flexible backing and generally depend on the ability of the backing to bend past a 90° angle for peeling release. PSAs also tend to have a relatively short life span in terms of the number of times they can be lifted and reattached. Despite the limitations, peeling remains the dominant switching technology in the marketplace.
展开▼
