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Fabrication of Polymer Microspheres for Optical Resonator and Laser Applications
Published on: June 2, 2017
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Laser-Induced Spallation of Microsphere Monolayers
Morgan Hiraiwa1, Melicent Stossel1, Amey Khanolkar1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington 98195, United States.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|July 14, 2016
Summary
Researchers studied polystyrene microsphere detachment from aluminum substrates using laser spallation. They quantified adhesion forces and observed unique crystalline domain morphologies in detached monolayer flakes.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Surface Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Understanding microsphere adhesion is crucial for microelectronics, coatings, and biomedical applications.
- Polystyrene microspheres on aluminum substrates are model systems for studying interfacial forces.
- Laser-induced spallation offers a dynamic method to probe adhesion and material failure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the adhesion forces between a polystyrene microsphere monolayer and an aluminum-coated glass substrate.
- To characterize the morphology of detached monolayer regions using advanced imaging techniques.
- To compare adhesion force measurements obtained through different experimental and modeling approaches.
Main Methods:
- Laser-induced spallation was employed to induce controlled detachment of the microsphere monolayer.
- Optical interferometry was used to measure substrate surface displacement and microsphere contact resonance.
- A rigid-body model and an adhesive contact model were utilized for adhesion force estimation.
Main Results:
- Adhesion forces were successfully estimated using a combination of laser spallation, optical interferometry, and modeling.
- Measurements were validated against theoretical work of adhesion values for the polystyrene-aluminum interface.
- Scanning electron microscopy revealed unique partially detached monolayer flakes with hexagonal close-packed crystalline domains.
Conclusions:
- The study provides quantitative insights into microsphere-substrate adhesion dynamics.
- A novel monolayer delamination morphology, characterized by crystalline domains, was observed and documented.
- This research advances the understanding of interfacial mechanics in microparticle assembly and detachment processes.
