Douglas Corrigan Ph.D.

The various supply chain disruptions of the past several years brought into sharp focus the need to identify alternative sources for key products, including adhesives used in assembly operations.

Because regulations regarding materials of concern are becoming increasingly complex all around the world, developing a protocol for materials replacement is a necessity for those operating in the CASE sector.

With the host of diverse biomaterials produced by an estimated 6.5 million species on land and 2.2 million species in the oceans, the biomimicry toolkit that man has to play with is, for all practical purposes, limitless. The superior designs discovered in nature have inspired many research programs from around the world, both at the university and commercial levels. The gecko, sandcastle worm, caddisfly, mussel, and sea cucumber are all species that have inspired new chemical approaches to creating adhesives with unique performance features.