Mechanics of Soft Materials: Adhesion

Objective

Soft Adhesion Systems (SASs) are integral to a wide range of applications, including IC packaging, consumer electronics, and automotive components. However, the failure or delamination of these adhesive layers can lead to severe consequences—such as diminished heat transfer, display malfunction, or uncontrolled vibrations in vehicles—resulting not only in reputational damage for manufacturers but also in critical safety concerns. Despite their importance, SASs are typically designed using trial-and-error methods followed by qualification testing, which often results in overdesign, inflated costs, and unresolved reliability issues. This black-box approach is increasingly incompatible with industry demands for sustainability, cost efficiency, and predictive reliability. To address this gap, the proposed project aims to develop a white-box framework for predicting the strength and lifetime of SASs by tackling three key challenges: multi-scale coupling across length and time, complex interfacial interactions, and the coexistence of multiple failure mechanisms. Specifically, the project will pursue the following research objectives, which align with the “Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness” pillar of Horizon Europe: (1) Investigate size and rate effects on detachment behavior under monotonic loading. (2) Identify the key parameters such as creep and chain scission that govern fatigue under cyclic loading. (3) Elucidate influences of multi-physical fields (e.g., temperature, humidity, pH) on failure under static conditions. To achieve these goals, the project will utilize soft viscoelastic polymers tagged with mechanophores—an advanced material system—and combine experimental studies with theoretical modeling and numerical simulations. The outcomes will lay the foundation for predictive design tools that support safer, more efficient, and sustainable adhesion technologies across Europe’s high-impact sectors.