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Adhesion of Elastic Thin Films: Double Peeling of Tapes Versus Axisymmetric Peeling of Membranes

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Abstract

The mechanism of detachment of thin films from a flat smooth rigid substrate is investigated. In particular, analytical solutions in closed form are proposed for the double peeling of an elastic tape as well as for the axisymmetric peeling of a membrane. We show that in the case of double peeling of an endless elastic tape, a critical value of the pull-off force is found, above which the tape is completely detached from the substrate. In particular, as the detachment process advances, the peeling angle is stabilized on a limiting value, which only depends on the geometry of the tape, its elastic modulus and on the interfacial energy \(\Updelta\gamma\). This predicted behavior agrees with the “theory of multiple peeling” and clarifies some aspects of this theory. Moreover, it is also corroborated by experimental results (work in progress) we are carrying out on a standard adhesive tape adhered to a smooth flat poly(methyl methacrylate) surface. In the case of the axisymmetric adhering membrane, a different behavior is observed. In such case, the system is always stable, and the detached area monotonically increases with the peeling force, i.e., the elastic membrane can sustain in principle any applied force. Results are validated by a fully numerical analysis performed with the aid of a finite element commercial software.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge Regione Apulia and the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research for having supported the research activity within the project TRASFORMA Laboratory Network cod. 28, and projects PON01_02238 and PON02_00576_3333604. This work is also supported by the ERC Ideas Starting Grant No. 279985 ‘BIHSNAM—Bio-Inspired Hierarchical Super Nanomaterials’ and by the ERC Proof of Concept REPLICA (both PI Nicola Pugno).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. TriboLAB, Department of Mechanics, Mathematics and Management (DMMM), Politecnico of Bari, V.le Japigia, 185, Bari, Italy

    L. Afferrante, G. Carbone & G. Demelio

  2. Laboratory of Bio-inspired and Graphene Nanomechanics, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, 38123, Trento, Italy

    N. Pugno

  3. Center for Materials and Microsystems, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Via Sommarive 18, 38123, Povo (Trento), Italy

    N. Pugno

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  1. L. Afferrante
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  2. G. Carbone
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Correspondence to L. Afferrante.

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Afferrante, L., Carbone, G., Demelio, G. et al. Adhesion of Elastic Thin Films: Double Peeling of Tapes Versus Axisymmetric Peeling of Membranes. Tribol Lett 52, 439–447 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-013-0227-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-013-0227-6

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