Dynamic adhesion energy between surfaces connected by molecular bonds and its application to peel test

Abstract

We consider the energy needed to separate two surfaces connected by molecular bonds, whose formation and breakage can be described by the classical rate equation. We find that this adhesion energy is strongly rate-dependent due to the chemical kinetics involved. Two cases where the separation between surfaces grows linearly, or exponentially, with respect to time are studied in detail, scaling relations between the adhesion energy and separation speed, or the exponential factor, are derived in each case. As an example of application, the peel test of a membrane in adhesive contact with a substrate is also studied. We will show that findings obtained here can be directly used to predict the relationship between the applied tension and the peeling velocity, which is of central interest to this type of experiment. © 2010 Biomedical Engineering Society.