High-strain shape memory polymers as practical dry adhesives

The adhesive benefits of incorporating shape memory polymers (SMPs) in various dry adhesive designs have been well documented in recent years. Chemically-crosslinked SMPs can possess remarkable shape fixity and recovery ability, chemical and thermal stability, a sharp glass transition, and other desirable qualities. However, low failure strain and a relatively rigid rubbery state limit their performance as a dry adhesive component in many practical applications. This work explores the adhesive benefits of using an epoxy-based SMP which has been modified to possess a softer rubbery state and a greatly increased maximum strain before failure. One of the modified SMPs forms the active adhesive surface of a prototype consumer level device.