Abstract: A dry adhesive including a non-woven fabric of nanofibers comprising a polymeric material. The nanofibers include an average diameter within a range of from 50 nm to 10000 nm, and the non-woven fabric of nanofibers has a thickness within a range of from 0.1 ?m to 100 ?m. The dry adhesive has a shear adhesion strength that is higher than the normal adhesion strength. Additionally disclosed is a dry adhesive fiber mat including substantially aligned fibers extending lengthwise from a first region to a second region, each of the fibers having a diameter that is less than or equal to 10 microns. The dry adhesive fiber mat is selectively repositionable to, from, and between a mechanically interlocked state wherein the fibers at the first region are intimately positioned within void spaces between the fibers at the second region and a separated state not intimately positioned as such.

Abstract: A dry adhesive including a non-woven fabric of nanofibers comprising a polymeric material. The nanofibers include an average diameter within a range of from 50 nm to 10000 nm, and the non-woven fabric of nanofibers has a thickness within a range of from 0.1 ?m to 100 ?m. The dry adhesive has a shear adhesion strength that is higher than the normal adhesion strength. Additionally disclosed is a dry adhesive fiber mat including substantially aligned fibers extending lengthwise from a first region to a second region, each of the fibers having a diameter that is less than or equal to 10 microns. The dry adhesive fiber mat is selectively repositionable to, from, and between a mechanically interlocked state wherein the fibers at the first region are intimately positioned within void spaces between the fibers at the second region and a separated state not intimately positioned as such.

Abstract: A method of forming a dry adhesive by includes forming an electrospun non-woven of a spinnable polymer, wherein the polymer fiber forming the non-woven is aligned. A dry adhesive is provided that comprises aligned polymeric nanofibers. The polymeric nanofibers may be formed from a mixture of highly spinnable material is combined with an adhesive component to further enhance the adhesion onto substrates. The non-woven can further be processed by plastic deformation to create microprotrusions.