Skin‐Inspired Durable and Cost‐Effective Biomass‐Based Supramolecular Adhesives
Zhenghui Lei, Jiawei Shao, Cheng Li, Shuaicheng Jiang, Meng Yao, Jianzhang Li
Abstract
Abstract Bio‐based adhesives are promising alternatives to petroleum‐based ones but are often hindered by low performance, limited application range, or high cost. This research draws inspiration from skin structure, using a soy protein meal (SM) matrix and a gelatin backbone to develop a supramolecular adhesive system. In this system, soy globulins and polysaccharides are uniformly dispersed, enhancing interfacial adhesion and load‐bearing capacity, while the gelatin chains are interwoven, constructing a network backbone and strengthening the cohesion of the adhesive. The adhesive dissipates strain energy and improves load‐bearing capacity by allowing molecular chains to slide under stress, achieving performance comparable to commercially available polyvinyl acetate (PVAC) adhesives at an ultra‐low cost (≈58% of PVAC) and negative carbon footprint. The tensile strength and fracture toughness of the adhesive are ≈2.9 and 8.4 times higher than those of SM, respectively. Furthermore, the adhesive system exhibits superior adjustable extreme environmental adaptability, with stable bonding over a temperature range from −196 to 150 °C, adjustable from hydratable separation to boiling water resistance. Overall, this study proposes a strategy inspired by the skin, leveraging the properties of plant proteins to develop a sustainable, high‐performance, and cost‐effective adhesive for both consumer and industrial applications.