Development of an apparatus for measuring adhesive force between fine particles

Abstract

We developed an apparatus that uses the direct separation method to measure adhesive force between fine particles, and between a fine particle and a flat-surface substrate. This apparatus was able to measure adhesive force with high resolution (approximately 2 nN) and monitor the behavior of each particle with a microscope and image analyzer when separating particles from each other, and to calculate the adhesive force of the particles. Of the organic particles tested (corn starch, potato starch, and lactose), potato starch had the highest adhesive force, while lactose had the lowest adhesive force toward flat-surface substrates. The diameter and size distribution of fine particles clearly affected their adhesive force.