Interactions with AFM: Superlubricity, Pulp Friction and Bad Hair days

by Prof. Mark Rutland (Surface Chemistry, School of Chemical Science and Engineering)

Thursday 12 Feb 2009, 09:15 → 10:00 Europe/Stockholm

FA32

In addition to powerful imaging capabilities, the AFM can be used to measure forces and friction betwenn nano and microscale contacts, for example by using the colloid probe approach, where a particle of interest is glued to the AFM tip. Forces such as electrical double layer, hydration, steric, Lifshitz etc as well as lateral/friction can be readily measured (and quantified if spring constants are adequately known!). Some fundamental studies concerning mechanisms of adhesion and friction will be leavened with examples where the technique has been used to give information in practical systems such as papermaking, recycling and even haircare.