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.