British Military Trials Mussel-Inspired Underwater Glue

An underwater glue that mimics the natural stickiness of mussels has been tested in the U.K., opening the door to faster and more effective military repairs in extreme environments.

The adhesive, developed by the U.K. Ministry of Defence’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and biotech company Zentraxa, was recently trialled by British Army divers at Horsea Island. The divers used the glue to attach various objects to a submerged steel wall.

Designed to perform in wet and underwater conditions, the glue allows quick repairs to items such as wetsuits, inflatable dinghies, and equipment used in challenging environments. It also offers a potential advantage in repairing underwater infrastructure, including bridge supports, without needing to bring operations to a halt.

The glue was tested not only in field conditions but also in laboratory settings using simulated sea water. According to officials, it showed strong performance even on wet surfaces outside the water.

Zentraxa’s chief technology officer Martin Challand highlighted the natural inspiration behind the glue. "We have taken inspiration from natural organisms that can stick underwater like the marine mussel and then tried to exploit that biochemistry into a real-world setting," he said.

Challand added that the glue’s ability to potentially save lives and reduce costs during military deployments is a breakthrough achievement for cross-sector collaboration.

Dstl provided £300,000 to support the research and plans to continue working with other parts of the defence sector to further develop the adhesive. There is also interest in applying the technology beyond military use, in sectors where underwater repairs are needed.