Ford looks to nature for new adhesive technology

Existing solutions for gluing foam materials to metals and plastics can make it virtually impossible to disassemble the parts for recycling. Now, the Blue Oval is looking to the gecko for inspiration as part of a joint research project with Procter & Gamble.

The gecko’s phenomenal ability to adhere itself onto just about any surface has been known since the time of Aristotle: A large example weighing somewhere in the region of 150g could theoretically support upwards of 40 kg if it gripped with all four feet. Just as impressive is the fact it does so without secreting any substances and that it can pull its feet off the surface with ease.

While the gecko’s ability is well documented it wasn’t until 2002 that researchers fully grasped how it takes place. The answer lies with millions of tiny hair-like structures known as setae found on their feet. The molecules within these have an imbalanced distribution of electrons; their overall charge is neutral, but they can generate an attractive force when placed near other imbalanced molecules.