Why is tape and velcro sticky? What is happening on the molecular scale of ‘stickiness’?
In: Physics
All surfaces are inherently rough at a molecular level. Any adhesive is just a substance that is flexible enough to get into the nooks and crannies of such a surface and get “wedged” inside it.
Similarly velcro is mafe up of many hook shaped plastic tines which hook on to fibers on the surface and create a bond. That’s why velcro works best with cloth like wool but won’t stick on fine silk or nylon which have fewer stray fibers.
PS: This is only valid for weak adhesives like tape not for strong adhesives like cyno acyrelic glues which work more on a chemical reaction level
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