TUM develops high-performance adhesive from mistletoe berries
Researchers at the Technical University of Munich led by Oliver Lieleg developed a bio-based adhesive extracted from mistletoe berries, supplemented with tannic acid and malic acid. The adhesive bonds wood, metal, glass, and Teflon, achieving shear strengths exceeding 10 megapascals in some tests. It can be detached and reactivated by heating to around 90 degrees Celsius and maintains bonding performance at -150 degrees Celsius, potentially enabling easier repair and recycling of electronic devices and applications at cryogenic temperatures. The researchers note the approach is currently unsuitable for large-scale production, as they work to develop scalable manufacturing processes independent of the plant source.
