Changing polymer catechol content to generate adhesives for high versus low energy surfaces. Issue 7 (13th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Putnam, Amelia A.; Wilker, Jonathan J.
• Is Part Of: Soft matter. Volume 17:Issue 7(2021)
• Page Start: 1999
• Page End: 2009
• Publication Date: 2021-01-13
• Subjects: Soft condensed matter -- Periodicals; 530.413
• DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01944e
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-683X

Abstract

Abstract : Changing catechol content in a biomimetic polymer alters affinity for high versus low surface energy substrates. Abstract : Adhesive bonding is commonly used to replace mechanical fasteners in many applications. However, the surface chemistry of different substrates varies, making adhesion to a variety of materials difficult. Many biological adhesives are adept at sticking to multiple surfaces with a range of surface chemistries. Marine mussels utilize a catechol moiety within their adhesive proteins to bring about surface binding as well as cohesive cross-linking. Mimicking this functionality in synthetic polymers has yielded high strength adhesives that can attach to both high and low surface energy materials, although not equally well. Here, the amount of catechol within a copolymer system was varied for potential tailoring to specific surfaces. Structure–function studies revealed differing trends of optimal catechol content for high energy aluminum versus low energy polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon TM ) surfaces. Adhesion strengths were optimized with ∼10 mol% catechol for aluminum and ∼41 mol% for Teflon TM . Varying the catechol incorporation also resulted in changes to wettability, failure modes, and mechanics on these substrates. When considering performance of the entire bulk material, the different surfaces required an altered adhesive–cohesive balance. Tailoring the composition of polymeric adhesives for different surfaces may aid future manufacturing in cases where joining a variety of materials is required.