What makes the peel-off stickers stick to glass and not other materials?
Consumer electronic devices (TV, MP3 players, etc) usually come with peel-off stickers that attach to glass or shiny plastic surfaces without any glue, but won't stick to other surfaces like metal or fabric. What gives them those properties? How does that work? Thanks
Static electricity. The same thing that makes all polyvinylidene chloride films (Saran wrap) stick. When you peel it away from its backing, it gains a uniform electric charge. When you bring the film near the surface you want to stick it to, the charges in the surface re-arrange to create a negative image of the charges in the film. There is then an attraction between the film and its image in the surface.
Because PVDC is VERY insulating (and slightly electronegative), the charges stay put and never move. The cling wrap or sticker will stay adhered to the surface for a very long time.
Additionally, you squeeze the air out from between the sticker and the surface, so atmospheric pressure also holds the sticker down. For example, polyethylene films are used to tint windows. These films do not gain much of a charge on their own, so water is used as electrostatic glue. But what holds the film on is atmospheric pressure.
These films don't stick well to metal because the metal is conductive and will neutralize the charge. Metal also doesn't allow electric fields inside it, so the image charge is reduced. They may stick somewhat to fabric, but eventually the charge will leak away and there will be no vacuum to keep it adhered.
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