Analysis of forces for micromanipulations in dry and liquid media

Authors: Gauthier, Michaël; Régnier, Stéphane; Rougeot, Patrick; Chaillet, Nicolas

Source: Journal of Micromechatronics, Volume 3, Numbers 3-4, 2006 , pp. 389-413(25)

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Abstract:

During microscale object manipulation, contact (pull-off) forces and non-contact (capillary, van der Waals and electrostatic) forces determine the behaviour of the micro-objects rather than the inertial forces. The aim of this article is to give an experimental analysis of the physical phenomena at a microscopic scale in dry and liquid media. This article introduces a review of the major differences between dry and submerged micromanipulations. The theoretical influences of the medium on van der Waals forces, electrostatic forces, pull-off forces and hydrodynamic forces are presented. Experimental force measurements based on an AFM system are carried out. These experiments exhibit a correlation better than 40% between the theoretical forces and the measured forces (except for pull-off in water). Finally, some comparative experimental micromanipulation results are described and show the advantages of the liquid medium.

Keywords: MICROMANIPULATION; MICROROBOTICS; LIQUID MEDIUM; PULL-OFF FORCE; ELECTROSTATIC FORCE; HYDRODYNAMIC EFFECT; VAN DER WAALS FORCE; CAPILLARY FORCE

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156856306777924699

Publication date: 2006-09-01