Ultrastrong underwater glue is developed through biomimetic materials design

The bonding strength of most adhesives is significantly reduced in water because a hydration layer impedes the interaction between the substrate and the adhesive. A/Prof. Ejima and his colleagues have succeeded in developing a biomimetic adhesive with underwater bonding strengths exceeding 10 MPa on metal. This is equivalent to lifting a weight of 100 kg with an adhesion area of ​​only 1 square centimeter: a feat that has been impossible with previous underwater adhesives. Since this adhesive exhibits strong adhesive strengths even in moist environments, they could find potential use in biomedical applications. This research was published online in Nature Communications on April 13, 2022.