Researchers at Purdue University report they have patent-pending adhesive formulations, derived from fully sustainable, bio-based components, that establish bonds that grow stronger when underwater or exposed to wet conditions. Gudrun Schmidt, an associate professor of practice in Purdue’s Department of Chemistry, and a team of researchers developed the formulations from zein, a protein found in…

Glue holds the world together. Without adhesives, much of modern human civilization — including our cellphones, cars, furniture, walls and the packages arriving on our doorstep — would simply fall apart. The trouble with all those adhesives is that they are not sustainable. A team of chemists at Purdue University led by Jonathan Wilker, professor of chemistry in the College…

Written by Chris Adam Purdue University   Make them tougher by making them weaker. That’s the proposed solution from a Purdue University research team – well-known for its adhesive technology. “We have been using inspiration from sea creatures to develop several new adhesives,” said Jonathan Wilker, a Purdue professor of chemistry and materials engineering, who helps lead…