Abstract
We developed a new apparatus to measure adhesive forces between fine particles and those of fine particles on a substrate with flat surface by a direct separation method. The apparatus monitored the behavior of individual particles by a microscope with image analyzer when particles were separated from each other, and was able to measure the adhesive force with a high resolution (approximately 2nN). Among the organic particles studied in the present work (corn starch, potato starch and lactose), potato starch showed the highest adhesive force, while lactose showed the lowest adhesive force on a substrates with flat surface. It was clarified that the particle diameter and the size distribution affect the adhesive force of fine particles.
