Gecko-like tape holds up 42-inch TV

Sandrine Ceurstemont, editor, New Scientist TV

Forget wall brackets, you can now use tape to fix a heavy television to your wall. The new adhesive, invented by Alfred Crosby and his team at University of Massachusetts Amherst, exploits the same mechanism as gecko feet, allowing it to withstand up to 300 kilograms of force on a smooth surface like glass. In this video, it successfully holds up a television weighing 18 kilograms and can be quickly removed, without leaving behind any residue, and reused.

The material was developed by analysing gecko feet and the combination of factors that contribute to its extreme clinging power. Whereas other groups have focused on mimicking tiny hairs that increase surface area contact to maximise grip, Crosby and his colleagues considered the impact of tendons, bones and skin, allowing them to come up with the first design that could be scaled up.

The device consists of a silicone adhesive pad attached to the middle of a stiff fabric "tendon", mimicking a joint and allowing for flexibility of movement. The pad can be draped over a surface to maximise its contact area and increase its strength. Even on a vertical wall, it resists peeling off.

The team is now improving their design by studying the evolution of gecko feet, which have maintained their stickiness despite variations in anatomy. The material holds promise as a cheap and durable alternative to existing dry adhesives.

If you enjoyed this clip, check out a sticky substance that claims to give more grip than gecko feet or see a coating that repels both oil and water.

Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/1ccb5443/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Cblogs0Cnstv0C20A120C0A20Cgecko0Elike0Etape0Eholds0Eup0E420Einch0Etv0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Fonline0Enews/story01.htm

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