V. Granier et al., AN ATOMIC-FORCE MICROSCOPY STUDY OF THE WETTING OF AN INORGANIC SURFACE BY LATEX-PARTICLES, The Journal of adhesion, 42(4), 1993, pp. 255
Atomic Force Microscopy is used to investigate the wetting of a calciu
m carbonate crystal surface by latex particles when dried from dispers
ion. The measured particle heights are found to depend on the scanning
rate and on the force of the probe tip acting on the sample. The anal
ysis of the particle profile shows that the spreading is not governed
by capillary forces. Below their glass temperature, the latex particle
s have weak adhesion to the crystal and are moved easily by the probe
tip. This results in tip-induced organization of particles. Above thei
r glass temperature, the particles spread on the surface and the are n
o longer moved by the probe tip.