Performing adhesive force images

The adhesive force images were performed by Pulsed Force Mode (PFM) using a modulation frequency of 1 kHz and an amplitude of 400 nm. Uncoated silicon cantilevers with 2.8 N/m were used as force sensors. The force values measured by PFM are recorded in volts. To convert this value into force values the following equation was used ... 

PFM experiments performed with surface-modified tips allow steady imaging of polymer blends with respect to the pull-off forces. Comparing non-modified, hydrophilic tips with modified hydrophobic tips reveals the inversion of the difference between the adhesive forces, indicating even an inversion of the strength of interactions between hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymer surfaces and the SFM tip or silica particles. It could also be shown that the hardness of the silane layer influences the measured pull-off forces. The harder HMDS modification leads to lower adhesive forces, like the softer PDMS modification, confirming the results obtained for toner-silica particles. 

A detailed study on the topography of elastic and adhesive properties of individual wood-derived CNCs using atomic force microscopy (AFM) was made by Lahiji et al. [59]. The AFM experiments involving high-resolution dynamic mode imaging and jump-mode measurements were performed on individual CNCs imder ambient conditions with 30% relative humidity (RH) and under a N atmosphere with 0.1% RH. The transverse elastic... 

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