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Lateral stiffness: A new nanomechanical measurement for the determination of shear strengths with friction force microscopy

Journal Article · · Applied Physics Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.118639· OSTI ID:522547
; ;  [1]
  1. Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)

We present a technique to measure the lateral stiffness of the nanometer-sized contact formed between a friction force microscope tip and a sample surface. Since the lateral stiffness of an elastic contact is proportional to the contact radius, this measurement can be used to study the relationship between friction, load, and contact area. As an example, we measure the lateral stiffness of the contact between a silicon nitride tip and muscovite mica in a humid atmosphere (55{percent} relative humidity) as a function of load. Comparison with friction measurements confirms that friction is proportional to contact area and allows determination of the shear strength. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
522547
Journal Information:
Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 70; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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