Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Ruomiao Wang

Tao Xie

Xingcheng Xiao

Hamid Ghavami Kia

Jessica A Schroeder

Todd E Durocher

One exemplary method includes providing a first polymer and a second polymer each comprising a first shape memory polymer backbone having at least one surface free side chain, the first polymer and the second polymer each transformable between a permanent shape and a temporary shape; creating an adhesive bond between the first polymer and the second polymer, wherein the creating of the adhesive bond transforms the first polymer to its temporary shape and transforms the second polymer to its temporary shape; and wherein the at least one surface free chain of the first polymer in its temporary shape is interdiffused with the at least one surface free chain of the second polymer in its temporary shape by the creation of the adhesive bond.

Reversible welding process for polymers

One embodiment of the invention includes a multilayer dry adhesive system capable of reversible joining of rigid substrates.

Multilayer adhesive for thermal reversible joining of substrates

A shape memory polymer microfiber material coupled to a base portion and coated with a dry adhesive in which the tips of the microfibers may be modified to achieve superhydrophobicity. The resultant surface of the material may be altered between to an adhesive state from a superhydrophobic state as the shape memory polymer transforms from its permanent shape to a temporary shape. The shape memory polymer microfiber material may be reversibly coupled to one or more substrates when in the adhesive state and uncoupled when in the superhydrophobic state.

Self-cleaning dry adhesives

One embodiment provides an attachment pad including a multilayer thermo-reversible adhesive including a shape memory polymer layer and a dry adhesive layer underlying the shape memory polymer layer, the multilayer thermo-reversible adhesive having a curved surface when the shape memory polymer layer is below its glass transition temperature and unaffected by a load; and a means for evenly applying a load and/or detaching force on the perimeter of the multilayer thermo-reversible adhesive including a spring.

Attachment pad with thermal reversible adhesive and methods of making and using the same

A reversible adhesive system for coupling together two objects may consist of two shape memory polymers with molecular 'hooks and loops' on the surfaces (i.e. the surface away from each of the objects). Utilizing the shape memory properties of the polymers, the molecular hooks and molecular loops may be brought together to form non-covalent bonds, leading to macroscopic adhesion. Upon heating, the adhesive bond can be separated with a small peeling force. The adhesive bonding and debonding can be repeated for multiple cycles with significant adhesion retention.

High strength reversible noncovalent adhesion methods for a solid polymer-polymer interface

One embodiment of the invention includes a method of joining two substrates with multilayer thermo-reversible dry adhesives and separating the two bonded substrates by completely thermally reversing the adhesion via heating.

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Warren, MI, United States of America

Ruomiao Wang