American Scientists Develop High-Strength Adhesive Capable of Supporting 136 kg per cm2.
A team of scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) under the U.S. Department of Energy has created a new adhesive with promising properties, as reported by New Atlas on February 25. The research was published in the journal Science Advances.
New material with strong adhesive properties. (Photo: Carlos Jones/ORNL)
In the study, experts utilized polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-polystyrene, or SEBS. This type of polymer is commonly used in items such as toothbrushes, handles, and diapers.
The research team enhanced SEBS with new capabilities by modifying its chemical structure. They achieved this through a dynamic crosslinking process, allowing bonds to form between typically incompatible materials. They combined silica nanoparticles and the polymer with the assistance of compounds known as boronic esters, resulting in a new crosslinked synthetic material named SiNP. Boronic esters are key to the reusability of the new adhesive as they enable crosslinks to be formed and broken multiple times.
“An important finding is that boronic esters on SEBS can rearrange bonds with hydroxyl groups (composed of oxygen and hydrogen) on SiNP to adapt to desired properties. We also discovered that the formation of boronic ester links can similarly reverse with various surfaces containing hydroxyl groups,” said Md Anisur Rahman, the lead author of the study.
The crosslinks shift within the new material, allowing it to adhere strongly to various surfaces, with one cm2 able to withstand up to approximately 136 kg. The research team also conducted strength tests, in which they attempted to separate the new adhesive. The results showed that its strength even surpassed all commercially available adhesives they tested against. According to the experts, the combination of strength and flexibility makes the new adhesive one of the most resilient materials available.
“Creating a strong and flexible adhesive is challenging because it requires a combination of hard and soft properties that are typically incompatible. The difficulty lies in adding flexibility from soft materials without sacrificing strength. Our method employs dynamic chemical bonds to develop a new adhesive with outstanding properties that have never been seen in current materials,” explained Tomonori Saito, a scientist at ORNL and co-author of the study.
The new adhesive is recyclable and maintains effectiveness at temperatures exceeding 200 degrees Celsius, making it suitable for high-temperature applications. The research team believes it could be beneficial in the aerospace, automotive, and construction industries, and they are working to commercialize and improve the technology. Additionally, the new material helps conserve resources and reduce waste.
