The time dependence of the detachment force of ground micrometer-size particles from a planar substrate: Effect of particle rotation

The time dependence of the detachment force applied to 71 mu m ground polyester particles coated with silica nanoparticles was determined by ultracentrifugation. It was found that the force required to separate the particles from the substrate increased during the first 24 hours and changed very little thereafter. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results suggest that the increase in adhesion is due to the particles rotating from their initial positions obtained during deposition. The role of the silica nanoparticles in determining the time dependence of the detachment force is discussed in terms of the JKR and Fuller-Tabor models.