Mechanics of adhesives under annular confinement: internal pressure, force, and interfacial area.

Closed annular adhesive interfaces are commonly found in nature as well as in many existing and developing technologies. Such contacts provide enhanced control of interfacial history by prescribing whether interfacial separation occurs at the outer or inner edge, and whether internal pressure affects the required force for separation. To facilitate the development of technologies involving annular contacts, we have experimentally measured the relationship between applied displacement, resulting force and internal pressure, and annular interface dimensions for the contact between a rigid annular probe and an adhesive layer with finite thickness. Experiments were validated by finite element analysis models, which were used to develop semi-empirical analytical relationships for the changes in contact compliance as a function of material properties and geometric constraints. Additionally, the change in internal pressure was modeled as a function of annular contact dimensions and adhesive layer material properties. This model predicts the critical volume where internal pressure changes alters critical force for separating an annular contact interface. The results discussed here provide a foundation for new experimental protocols for characterizing soft materials, including pressure-sensitive adhesives, as well as guidelines for designing annular interfacial materials with controlled separation histories.

Large strain viscoelastic dissipation during interfacial rupture in laminated glass.

In the dynamic rupture of laminated glass, it is essential to maximize energy dissipation. To investigate the mechanisms of energy dissipation, we have experimentally studied the delamination and stretching of a polymeric viscoelastic interlayer sandwiched between glass plates. We find that there is a velocity and temperature domain in which delamination fronts propagate in a steady state manner. At lower velocities, fronts are unstable, while at higher velocities, the polymer ruptures. Studying the influence of the interlayer thickness, we have shown that the macroscopic work of fracture during the delamination of the interlayer can be divided in two main components: (1) a near crack work of fracture which is related to the interfacial rupture and to the polymer deformation in the crack vicinity. (2) A bulk stretching work, which relates to the stretching of the interlayer behind the delamination front. Digital image correlation measurements showed that the characteristic length scale over which this stretching occurs is of the order of the interlayer thickness. Finally, an estimate of the bulk stretching work was provided, based on a simple uniaxial tensile test.

Nanoparticle solutions as adhesives for gels and biological tissues.

Adhesives are made of polymers because, unlike other materials, polymers ensure good contact between surfaces by covering asperities, and retard the fracture of adhesive joints by dissipating energy under stress. But using polymers to 'glue' together polymer gels is difficult, requiring chemical reactions, heating, pH changes, ultraviolet irradiation or an electric field. Here we show that strong, rapid adhesion between two hydrogels can be achieved at room temperature by spreading a droplet of a nanoparticle solution on one gel's surface and then bringing the other gel into contact with it. The method relies on the nanoparticles' ability to adsorb onto polymer gels and to act as connectors between polymer chains, and on the ability of polymer chains to reorganize and dissipate energy under stress when adsorbed onto nanoparticles. We demonstrate this approach by pressing together pieces of hydrogels, for approximately 30 seconds, that have the same or different chemical properties or rigidities, using various solutions of silica nanoparticles, to achieve a strong bond. Furthermore, we show that carbon nanotubes and cellulose nanocrystals that do not bond hydrogels together become adhesive when their surface chemistry is modified. To illustrate the promise of the method for biological tissues, we also glued together two cut pieces of calf's liver using a solution of silica nanoparticles. As a rapid, simple and efficient way to assemble gels or tissues, this method is desirable for many emerging technological and medical applications such as microfluidics, actuation, tissue engineering and surgery.