Phenomenological Approach to Adhesive Structure Formation and Morphology Changes

Phenomenological Approach to Adhesive Structure Formation and Morphology Changes 

Thick gel-like adhesive was detected whenever there was a large distance between the barnacle base and the substratum to be bridged (e.g., on fiber coatings or on surfaces with thick biofilm layers). It is questionable whether the barnacle produces more adhesive in order to continuously fill out the space to the substratum or whether the adhesive is expanded by water uptake. As the cement-producing cells appeared normal, water uptake is more hkely to be the dominant process. 

Though the swelling process reduces the number of potential crosslinking interactions causing low cohesion, the mechanism provides benefits  

From the evolutionary point of view, structures or mechanisms that prove a success are likely to be passed on. However, adult barnacles probably do not control the structure formation process of their cement The ability of cypris larvae to sense physical and chemical surface properties most likely vanishes after attachment and metamorphosis, for the main function of the adult is to feed and to metabolize the energy into growth and reproduction. Instead, the above observations probably suggest that the structure formation process is simply a result of water uptake increasing the effective size of the adhesive filling spaces or gaps. 

Homologous ] Structure Formation of Biological Adherates on Hydrophobic Surfaces 

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