Friction-reduction effect of the hierarchical surface microstructure of carrion beetle by controlling the real contact area.

The discovery and elucidation of the surface microstructure functions of living organisms are crucial to resolving issues, such as friction. We newly discovered that , a type of carrion beetle that lives on the ground surface, exhibited a hierarchical surface microstructure comprising a submicron-sized wrinkle structure on top of a micron-sized microstructure. The surface microstructure of this beetle improved wettability but did not exhibit superhydrophobicity, a well-known function of hierarchical structures, so it was expected to have a different function.

A New Concept for an Adhesive Material Inspired by Clingfish Sucker Nanofilaments.

Underwater adhesive materials are in high demand in various fields, and fish species with sucker disks have attracted attention due to their superior performance and interesting structures. The clingfish, in particular, is widely known for using hierarchical sucker disk structures to demonstrate rapid and strong adhesion to rocky surfaces under strong currents. We examined the combination of nanofilaments and mucus in the clingfish sucker disk.

Effect of the Microstructures on Vulcanized Rubber Frictions.

Vulcanized rubber is widely used in a wide range of applications because of its flexibility, durability, sealing properties, and high degree of friction. However, this high degree of friction can also become an issue, as it leads to the wearing and breakage of parts. In this report, we investigated the effects of the vulcanized rubber microstructures on friction force by using simple, anisotropic microstructures.