Interfaces with Tunable and Enhanced Adhesion Comprised of Micro-scale Composite Fibrils

摘要

In conclusion, we have shown that a composite post with a stiff core and a compliant shell provides enhanced adhesion under pure normal loading and that the pull-off force can be substantially decreased by the application of shear. Thus, composite posts serve as a basic structure to achieve tunable adhesion. Under normal loading, the pull-off force of a composite post with a low t/R is more than nine times higher than the pull off force of a homogeneous post. Composite posts were found to have up to a 7x reduction in adhesion when a sufficiently large shear displacement is applied. Finally, we believe that arrays of micro-scale composite posts have the potential for a variety of interesting applications.