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Measuring of the hardly measurable: adhesion properties of anti-adhesive surfaces

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Abstract

Adhesion is a universal phenomenon influencing many processes in natural and technical systems. To elucidate these influences, reliable measurements of adhesion forces are of high importance. In the present study, by using a microforce tester combined with a compliant sticky probe, we introduce a newly established method allowing adhesion measurements on surfaces with low adhesive capabilities. Four quality control tests revealed a high reproducibility and reliability of data obtained. Further advantages of the method are (1) defined geometry of the probe, (2) ease attachment of the probe to the cantilever, (3) its applicability for time consuming experiments, (4) as well as a low price of components and a minimum of required equipment. We present the first results obtained by using this method in a case study with six epoxy resin replicas having various roughness (R a =0.007–3.515 μm). Interestingly, the highest pull-off force values were obtained not on the smooth sample, but on the surface with the finest microroughness (R a =0.150 μm). With a further increase in the surface microroughness, pull-off forces continuously decreased. These results are in accordance with previously reported theoretical predictions.

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Acknowledgements

The help of Nadine Jacky (Kiel University, Germany) and Dr. Gopalakrishnan T. Rengarajan (University of Osnabrück, Germany) in establishing the method is greatly acknowledged. Great thanks to Dr. Alexander Kovalev for providing the calculation program for E-modulus and Joachim Oesert (both Kiel University) for manufacturing frames. We wish to thank the staff of the Botanical Garden at the University of Kiel for providing plant material. This study was partly supported by the SPP 1420 priority program of the German Science Foundation (DFG) ‘Biomimetic Materials Research: Functionality by Hierarchical Structuring of Materials’ (project GO 995/9-2) to SG.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, 24118, Kiel, Germany

    Julia Purtov, Elena V. Gorb & Stanislav N. Gorb

  2. Institute for Chemistry of New Materials, University of Osnabrück, Barbarastr. 7, 49069, Osnabrück, Germany

    Martin Steinhart

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  1. Julia Purtov
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  2. Elena V. Gorb
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  3. Martin Steinhart
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  4. Stanislav N. Gorb
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Correspondence to Julia Purtov.

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Purtov, J., Gorb, E.V., Steinhart, M. et al. Measuring of the hardly measurable: adhesion properties of anti-adhesive surfaces. Appl. Phys. A 111, 183–189 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-012-7520-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-012-7520-3

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