Chemical Velcro: A Sticky Situation!

The new chemical is at least ten times stronger then conventional Velcro, and is much tougher to take apart. Unless, of course, the substance is heated, in which case it can be easily removed from the other piece. The chemical Velcro reacts to heat and cold by softening and hardening, much like metals that are heated to a specific degree.

The new Velcro is sustainable for two or three different applications before it begins to lose it's elasticity. It would be more of a perma-adhesive, for things that rarely need to be changed, such as placing a bumper on a car, or a placement for decoration in one's house.

" The adhesive strength of the material is 700 newtons per square centimeter. "
"The best gecko glue, by contrast, can withstand a force of 100 newtons before coming apart."

From Next Big Future, these facts show us that the new Super Velcro, when perfected, will have a much better stability and sustainability than regular hooked Velcro.

These new advancements could lead for much more customization for automobiles, houses, and just about anything that can hold an add-on.

For vehicles this means easier customization for the fore mentioned bumpers, CD player placement, radio placement, and so forth. For houses, this means easier decorations without the need for a hole in the wall or ceiling, easier placement for bathroom essentials, especially in the shower, and even something as simple as adding a holder for a remote control. This can open up many possibilities for just about anything, including clothing repairs, computer repairs, in fact you could possibly repair or change just about anything you set your mind to.

To better explain the adhesive properties of the Velcro, look at this snippet from Technology Review,

"The polymers in the glue bond to each other within minutes when they are initially heated. Thus, when two pieces of the adhesive materials are heated, they stick together strongly. Once stuck, it takes a lot of force to peel the polymers away from each other, but they come apart easily when heated again. The researchers were able to attach and pull apart the polymers twice before losing one-third of the adhesive strength, according to a Langmuir paper published online. "

The possibilities are endless for a reversible adhesive such as the Super Velcro. Although it will probably take a lot more testing, and polishing, before the compound reaches it's maximum potential and is available for public use. It is still, nonetheless, a remarkable achievement for technology.

For more facts, check out these resources:

Next Big Future

Technology Review