1. “Purdue University Develops Sustainable Adhesive Formulations that Strengthen Underwater”
2. “Bio-Based Adhesive Formulations with Potential for Coral Reef Restoration Developed at Purdue University”
3. “Purdue University’s Patent-Pending Adhesive Formulations: Stronger in Water and Fully Sustainable”
4. “Revolutionizing Industries: Purdue University’s Sustainable Adhesive Formulations that Bond Stronger Underwater”
5. “Purdue University Develops Bio-Based Adhesives for Underwater Applications and Coral Reef Restoration”
6. “Purdue University’s Breakthrough: Sustainable Adhesive Formulations that Strengthen in Wet Conditions”
7. “Purdue University’s Sustainable Adhesive Formulations: A Potential Game-Changer for Coral Reef Restoration”
8. “Purdue University’s Innovative Adhesive Formulations: Stronger Bonds in Wet Conditions and Fully Sustainable”
9. “Purdue University Develops Sustainable Adhesives that Strengthen Underwater, Potential for Various Industries”
10. “Stronger Underwater: Purdue University’s Breakthrough in Sustainable Adhesive Formulations”

Purdue University Develops Patent-Pending Adhesive Formulations

Researchers at Purdue University have developed patent-pending adhesive formulations using fully sustainable, bio-based components. These formulations have the unique ability to establish bonds that become stronger when submerged underwater or exposed to wet conditions. This breakthrough could have significant implications for various industries, including construction, manufacturing, biomedical, dental, food, and cosmetic industries, as well as coral reef restoration.

The team, led by Gudrun Schmidt, an Associate Professor of Practice in Purdue University’s Department of Chemistry, developed these formulations using zein, a protein found in corn, and tannic acid. The team’s research was recently published in the peer-reviewed journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

Stronger in Water

The team conducted adhesive experiments in underwater environments, evaluating their formulations on various surfaces and in different water types. These included seawater, saline solution, tap water, and deionized water. Interestingly, the water type does not influence performance a great deal, but the substrate type does. An additional unexpected result was bond strengths increasing over time when exposed to water, contradicting general experiments of working with traditional, petroleum-based glues. Initial adhesion underwater was stronger compared to benchtop adhesion, suggesting that water helps to make the glue stick underwater.

A protective skin forms on the surface of the adhesives when placed underwater, preventing immediate water ingress into the rest of the material. “But once the skin was in place, it could be broken to induce faster bond formation,” Schmidt notes.

The Demand for Nontoxic Formulations

There is a growing demand for non-toxic, sustainably sourced materials with minimal environmental impact. This has led to the development of adhesives tailored for biomedical purposes, which possess characteristics akin to soft tissue. However, Schmidt notes that bio-based adhesives offer broader potential applications. “Once the in vivo and biomedical realm is left behind, there is an entire world of other applications requiring metals, plastics, wood, and inorganic substrates that need adhesives to work in the presence of water,” Schmidt says.

Coral Reef Restoration

One particularly intriguing application for the patent-pending adhesive formulations developed at Purdue is the restoration of coral reefs. “There are several major efforts, worldwide, planting young corals to replace those structures that are already dead. A major hindrance to these efforts is lack of suitable underwater adhesives that work well for this application,” Schmidt adds.

Schmidt and her research team are collaborating with the Coral Restoration Foundation, sending a range of formulations away to be tested. “We recently visited the Florida Keys to test a few formulations in bucketsful of ocean water. It is great to see our work outside of the research lab and in the real, wet world,” Schmidt says.

The Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization has initiated the process of patent application to safeguard the intellectual property of these adhesive formulations.

Journal Reference:

Schmidt, G., et al. (2023). Underwater Bonding with a Biobased Adhesive from Tannic Acid and Zein Protein. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. doi.org/10.1021/acsami.3c04009.

Source: https://www.purdue.edu