Innovative nano-technological methods have allowed researchers from the department of Plastics Engineering to develop a polyurethane adhesive 10 times stronger than products being used today.

Led by Prof. Hanna Dodiuk, head of the Plastics Engineering department, and Prof. Shmuel Koenig, Dean of the Engineering Faculty, research student Or Kariv succeeded in adding 1% of “nano-tungsten sulfide nanotubes" to an adhesive, thus changing the structure. This type of adhesive, used mainly in the automotive industry, could revolutionize the field.

"Nanotechnology is at a historical turning point – a transition from the laboratory to commercial/industrial production," says Prof. Koenig. "The future is created in the lab, step by step, but tens and hundreds of innovative developments done in recent years in the lab will be rising to the surface and changing the lives of millions around the world."

This is not the first time this department has achieved impressive accomplishments in the field of adhesives. Last year, in the Plastics Engineering department, research student Mark Schneider developed a double-strength epoxy adhesive. This project was also supervised by Prof. Dodiuk and Prof. Koenig and was carried out as part of the Chief Scientist’s NES project (MAGNET program).

(Cover photo: Land Rover MENA, Flickr - CC Licence)