Why is it so difficult to design an adhesive that will debond? After all, if we are smart enough to glue something together at the molecular level, shouldn't we also be smart enough to take it apart? Designing reversible adhesion is more difficult than it seems, but the potential value of this concept is becoming more apparent every day. The commercial possibilities for removable adhesives appear endless. Removable labels, temporary signs and banners, attaching credit cards to mailers, postable notepaper, and masking tapes are only some of the current applications. These are generally nonstructural applications, but future uses of removable adhesives may include structural use. They may include simple repositioning when poor assemblies are made, prototyping of assemblies, and fixturing parts for secondary processes, such as machining. However, the major drivers for this technology in the future may be (1) the disassembly of parts for reuse, recycling, or upgrading of parts and (2) advanced delatching or deployment mechanisms.
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