Slide 12 of 12
Notes:
We’ve observed that for some systems the expectation of a dominant hydrophobic interaction is premature without thorough consideration of other important features involved especially with deformable interfaces.
Several system parameters, at least, are key for interpreting interfacial phenomena of fluids.
Not just surface forces, but more tangible parameters like particle size, interfacial tension, and approach velocity are extremely significant quantities for describing film drainage.
The ability to measure colloidal stability directly allows us to weed through the convoluted mess of interactions and determine the extent of each.
I think this opens the proverbial floodgate. Exploration of fluid interfaces is feasible on a very ideal scale with FI-AFM, not that it will be straightforward, by any means.
The data collection may now be trivial, but deciding what to do with it is still the rate-determining step in a successful experiment.