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ISU researchers have developed an adhesive that utilizes kirigami to provide anisotropic bonding, allowing for direction-controlled adhesion.

Recently, techniques in kirigami (Japanese art of folding that involves cutting) have been utilized to provide highly tunable stiffness and geometry in various materials.  Iowa State University researchers have applied kirigami techniques to adhesive tape, allowing for enhanced adhesion ability while maintaining ease of removal from the applied surface.  This technology uses anisotropic adhesion to provide directionally-dependent control, so that the adhesive tape resists removal from one direction but is easier to remove from a different direction.  These anisotropic properties make this technology ideal for medical tape, where adhesive strength and easy removal are essential, as well as other various adhesive tape markets.  This method could also be implemented into current processes with minimal change, preventing high costs associated with process change.

• Tunable/anisotropic adhesion

• Easy Integration into roll-to-roll manufacturing

• Strong adhesion with easy release

Adhesive tape and wound care

Patent(s) applied for