Nature often inspires some of humanity’s best technologies. Glues are no exception. Our earliest adhesives were gathered from nature and even now, nature is showing us new compounds we can use to make even better glues. You may be surprised at some of the natural sources of glues, and which is the strongest adhesive we’ve ever seen. Here’s a quick guide to interesting adhesives found in nature.
Bacteria
The latest adhesive discovery is very surprising. A bacterium found in plumbing pipes makes the strongest adhesive ever produced. In order to remove the bacteria from a glass surface, it takes the equivalent force of three cars balancing on a quarter (which is 5 ton per square inch). As a bonus, the glue is non-toxic and works in water!
Termites
Termites are blind, so they need very strong and fast-actingdefensemechanisms to protect them from their enemies, such as ants. They, therefore, evolved a nozzle on the front of their head that sprays glue when it feels an enemy in front of it. The glue can be toxic to ants, or it can just slow them down.
Geckos
Geckos have sticky feet that they use to climb with. In fact, they can turn the stickiness of their feet on and off. That’s because the adhesive is actually very small bristles that split off into even smaller hairs that create an electromagnetic attraction that helps Geckos stick to a huge range of surfaces.
Mussels
A mussel has a tough job to do every time the tide comes in or out. They need to stay attached to their home rocks in order to survive. So, they adapted long, tendril-like feet that attach them to the rock.It was alsodiscovered that the feet have six or so different kinds of glues that help the mussel stay on, even when it’s fighting the tide.
Honeybees are as industrious in the glue world as they are at making honey. They create their own adhesive thatiscalledpropolis. They create it from their saliva and an oil that flowers produce calledpollenkitt. Bees use their glue to protect their nectar as they head back to their home. This glue is still renowned for its ability to stay stickyin wet or humid conditions. It is still a challenge to design a synthetic glue that can meet these challenges.
Rubber Tree
It’s not just animals that have given us useful adhesives. Rubber trees naturally contain latex, which, when added to adhesives, improves them dramatically. It adds flexibility, even at low temperatures.
Need some adhesives of your own? Bond Tech is always up to date on the latest adhesive solutions and can help you create a custom solution for your application. Reach out to us today.
4.3. 1.1 Natural Adhesives. This term is used to include vegetable- and animal-based adhesives and natural gums. These include organic materials such as casein, blood, albumin, hide, bone, fish, starch, resin, shellac, asphalt, chitosan, and inorganic adhesives like sodium silicate.
Natural adhesives: These are obtained from natural resources. Examples: Bee wax, flour paste, tree sap. Artificial adhesives: These are prepared using chemicals in laboratories. Examples: Cello tape, adhesive films, glue.
Bacteria. The latest adhesive discovery is very surprising. A bacterium found in plumbing pipes makes the strongest adhesive ever produced. In order to remove the bacteria from a glass surface, it takes the equivalent force of three cars balancing on a quarter (which is 5 ton per square inch).
Plant-based liquid glues can be made from a variety of starches like corn, wheat, and potato. Other biodegradable adhesives can be sourced from gelatin netting.
Corn or maize starch is one of the most widely cultivated cereals in the world. North and South America utilize corn starch to produce paper and corrugated products, as it offers excellent adhesion. This type of starch is also a common food ingredient and is often used as a thickening agent in sauces and soups.
Caulobacter crescentus (pictured above) attaches to underwater surfaces via a stalk-like structure that has an ultra-sticky adhesive at its tip, made from the sugars glucose, mannose and xylose.
Weaker: Natural adhesives can't compete with the hold synthetic adhesives can produce. Short life: Natural adhesives are better for applications that don't need to last too long. They may, for example, be best for general packaging. Application: Natural glues should be applied to both surfaces to achieve a strong bond.
Animal glues from bones and hides are used in gummed tape and textiles, and in the paper industry for book-binding and case making, for example. Fish glues manufactured from skins have been used in bonding rubber gasket to steel, paper to steel, etc. Caseins from skim milk are used mainly in wood bonding.
This binding process is so intense that, when tested, C.crescentus was found to be the most potent natural adhesive. As a result, the bacterium can attach to various surfaces, including glass, metal, and human cells.
Adhesion is the tendency of dissimilar particles or surfaces to cling to one another. (Cohesion refers to the tendency of similar or identical particles and surfaces to cling to one another.) Dew drops adhering to a spider web.
The green strength of adhesives is the early development of bond strength of an adhesive. It indicated "that the adhesive bond is strong enough to be handled a short time after the adherents are mated but much before full cure is obtained." Usually, this strength is significantly lower than the final curing strength.
From this two important series of natural glues are born: ecological glues . LOW EMISSION, eco-solvent based and ecological water-based glues, completely odorless and low emission. Two products that integrate sustainability and high performance.
You can easily find vegan-friendly glues in shops for personal use. According to Vegan Friendly, 'brands such as UHU, Weldbond, Gorilla Glue and Elmer's Glue are all suitable for vegans.
Lignins are large three-dimensional polymers produced by all vascular terrestrial plants. They are second only to cellulose in natural abundance and are essentially the 'natural glue' that holds plant fibers together. Lignins have polymeric and phenolic characters.
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