Adhesion and deformation of a single latex particle

The rupture of contact between a single latex particle and an atomic force microscope tip has been investigated at nanoscopic scales by monitoring ret racting force-distance curves. The particle is highly elongated, and an int ermittent rupture proceeds at the tip/latex interface. The minimal force of detachment, the separation energy, and the long distance shape of the curv e depend on the tip velocity and are strongly sensitive to the presence of nearby particles. This indicates that viscoelastic dissipations occur over spatial scales depending on the particles organization. The formation of lo ng nanofilaments seems to be a specific dissipative mechanism prominent for isolated particles.