A new method for the analysis of compaction processes in high-porosity agglomerates

Abstract

Mechanical properties of high-porous microscopic agglomerates have been investigated. For this purpose we installed an atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) using a nanomanipulator. The nanomanipulator is piezoelectric controlled with increments of 5 nm in the rotational and 0.5 nm in the translational direction. Thus, this tool allows the precise positioning and movement of an AFM cantilever under SEM observation. Depending on the spring constant of the cantilever and the step size of the motion-both quantities determining the sensitivity of the instrument-different aspects of the deformation of dust-aggregate structures, e.g., the behaviour of single particle chains, can be analysed. © 2007 Springer-Verlag.