Effect of metal surface characteristics on the adhesion performance of the integrated low-level energies method of adhesion.

We have previously proposed a new method of adhesion using the integrated low-level energy sources heat, vibration, and pressure. This adhesion method can be used to attach biological tissue to a metal object. Effects of surface roughness and energy of the metal subject on adhesion performance were studied by using commercially pure titanium (cpTi) and stainless steel (SUS304). Surface roughness and energy were changed by sandblast treatment and heat treatment, respectively. A porcine aorta was adhered to sandblast-treated SUS304 by use of an adhesion temperature of 80 °C, a vibration amplitude of 15 μm, a pressure of 2.5 MPa, an adhesion time of 120 s, and a surface roughness of an Ra 0.25 μm. The shear tensile strength of the adhesion was 0.45 MPa. The adhesion performance was improved by roughening the surface of the metal specimen. Surface energy has an insignificant effect on adhesive strength. The adhesion performance varied depending on metal material for the same surface roughness, Ra, and energy. Results from analysis of the surface roughness profile suggested that the size of surface asperity has an effect on adhesion performance.