Sawdust combined with a layer of tannic acid is helping to make water clean.
Now, a US-based research team has, likewise, used tannic acid to create a natural alternative to oil-based glues.
Mixing it with the protein zein from maize kernels, they discovered that the formulation grew stronger underwater, irrespective of the water’s salinity.
This was due to a water-repellent film, which formed around the glue underwater. Over time, only the necessary amount of water entered to strengthen the adhesive bond. Maximum bonding occurred at 30℃.
The patent-pending product can be manufactured quickly and at scale, and deployed in a number of different industries.
One application: using it to glue young coral onto dead reefs or new 3D printed ones.
