Reusable adhesive inspired by mussels
From left to right: Mary Danielson and Anisur Rahman, leaders of an ORNL project to develop a versatile, reusable adhesive from polymer waste (Photo: Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Department of Energy)
March 16, 2026 – Researchers of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have developed a strong, reusable adhesive inspired by how mussels attach to surfaces. These organisms can adhere firmly to wet and rough materials. The new adhesive works under similar conditions and can bond different materials such as metal, plastic, and glass. It also maintains its strength after repeated use. This makes it suitable for industrial and repair applications. According ORNL the combination of strength and reusability may reduce material waste.
The research has since been published in Science Advances under the title ‘High-performance reversible adhesive from PET waste for underwater, structural, and pressure-sensitive applications’. It is online>
