Setex’s Gecko-Inspired Tape is the world’s first commercial implementation of microstructured dry adhesive technology, developed to mimic the design and properties of setae, the millions of nano-scale hairs that cover gecko’s foot pads that give them their impressive ability to climb up walls.
Setex’s dry adhesive bonds to smooth, hard substrates and films. It is non-tacky, repeatable, and residue-free. Currently available as a custom solution, Setex Tape can be manufactured in a wide range of strengths and constructions. Samples of the tape can be purchased here.
Repeatability: Setex Tape is a reusable adhesive that provides repeatable bonding, unlike typical pressure sensitive adhesives that cannot be removed cleanly or reused. In clean environments, the tape can be reused thousands of times.
Dry / Glue-Free / Non-Tacky: Setex Tape is completely dry, providing exceptionally strong adhesion without tack. The properties of the gecko-inspired dry adhesive arise from the microstructure shape and do not rely on any glues or tacky materials.
Residue-Free: Because it is non-tacky, Setex’s Tape does not leave any sticky residue when it is removed from a surface. Ultra-clean versions of the dry adhesive are also available as a custom solution that are suitable for even clean-room use.
Customizable Performance: Small changes in the microstructures, like the shape of the tip or the aspect ratio of the structure, result in different adhesive and frictional properties for the Setex materials, enabling fine-tuning of adhesive properties, even the ability to independently tune shear and peel strength.
Products | Description | Shear Strength (N/cm²) | 180º Peel Strength (N/cm) | 90º Peel Strength (N/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
DA 910 / DA 110 | High strength dry adhesive microfiber | 30-40 | 1-2 | 0.6-0.8 |
DA 210 | Medium strength dry adhesive microfiber | 20-30 | 0.5 | 0.2-0.4 |
DA 310 | Low strength dry adhesive microfiber | 10 | N/A | N/A |
Setex Tape is seen in this video peeling off a metal surface; the sound you hear is that of thousands of microstructures popping off the metal surface as the tape is pulled back and detached.
Microscopic video showing the Setex microstructures adhering to surface and detaching as tape is pulled away, showing the qualities of a reusable adhesive.
Setex clean room tape is seen in this video picking and placing 1mm silicon wafers and delivering them to another carrier surface. This technology enables the picking and placing of the most valuable semiconductor parts for thousands of cycles using vertical displacement only, without leaving a residue.