Velcro-Like Material Insprired by Bird Feathers

Jan-19-19 An innovative new material inspired by bird feathers could offer an interesting alternative to Velcro.

The material mimics the barbules of bird feathers, which line the edges of the feather’s barb and holds them together. While studying the structure of the features, Tarah Sullivan of the University of California San Diego discovered that the barbules are always spaced between eight and sixteen micrometers apart. She then created a larger, 3D-printed version of barb and barbule structure that she believes could be further improved upon to replicate the way natural features divert air to the top—ideal for applications in aerospace.

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[NEWATLAS.COM]
[UCSDNEWS.UCSD.EDU]

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