Adhesion Matters

Smartphone Adhesives


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What if the adhesive holding your smartphone together wasn’t just about durability—but also about how easily it can be repaired, upgraded, or sustainably recycled? In this episode of Adhesion Matters, we unpack the revolutionary world of Debonding-on-Demand (DoD) adhesives and their far-reaching impact—from iPhones to wind turbines.

What You’ll Discover:

  • Fix It, Don’t Toss It
    Thanks to the global Right to Repair movement, policies in the EU, U.S., Canada, and beyond are forcing manufacturers to rethink product design—starting with how adhesives can make or break a device’s repairability.
  • Glued or Greener? The Double-Edged Stickiness
    We explore how tech giants like Apple built gorgeously compact devices with permanent adhesives—but are now integrating reversible adhesives to comply with repair mandates and reduce e-waste.
  • Controlled Release, Engineered by Science
    Discover how smart triggers—like low-voltage power, heat, UV light, or mechanical stimuli—enable strong bonds to detach on demand, without damaging components or leaving residue.
  • Beyond Phones: Real-World Transformations
    From making wind turbine blades recyclable to improving automotive dismantling and medical device maintenance, these adhesives are unlocking a more sustainable, modular future in manufacturing.
  • Promises vs. Practicalities
    Learn about what’s ahead—and what’s keeping us grounded: balancing bond strength with clean release, signaling triggers precisely to avoid accidental failure, retooling factories, and training technicians worldwide.

Why It Matters:

This episode reveals how modern adhesives are more than sticky—they’re strategic. They’re enabling circular design, regulatory compliance, and even new business models around repair and reuse. If you care about the sustainability, durability, or extendability of your tech—this one’s for you.

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Adhesion MattersBy Elena Bondwell