Biomimetic Underwater Adhesives with Environmentally Triggered Setting Mechanisms

Abstract

Inspired by the sandcastle worm, fluid complex coacervates of polyelectrolytes were formulated as water-borne underwater adhesives. The partially immiscible fluid phase can be delivered underwater and sets into a weight-bearing solid triggered by a change in the pH or temperature. Irreversible hardening occurs through oxidative coupling between catechol and primary amine sidechains. Detailed facts of importance to specialist readers are published as ”Supporting Information”. Such documents are peer-reviewed, but not copy-edited or typeset. They are made available as submitted by the authors. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.