公开(公告)号：US11499902B2

公开(公告)日：2022-11-15

申请号：US16477746

申请日：2018-01-17

Applicant: Aalto University Foundation sr

Inventor： Quan Zhou ,  Robin Ras ,  Ville Liimatainen ,  Maja Vuckovac

IPC: G01N13/02 ,  B01L3/00

Abstract: A force sensing probe (100) for sensing snap-in and/or pull-off force of a liquid droplet (111) brought into and/or separated from contact with a hydrophobic sample surface (151), respectively, comprises: a sensing tip (101); a sensor element (102) connected to the sensing tip, capable of sensing sub-micronewton forces acting on the sensing tip in a measurement direction; and a droplet holding plate (104) having a first main surface (105) and a hydrophilic second main surface (106) connected via a peripheral edge surface (107), and being attached via the first main surface to the sensing tip (101) perpendicularly relative to the measurement direction for receiving and holding a liquid droplet (111) as attached to the second main surface; the droplet holding plate comprising an electrically conductive surface layer (115), the first and the second main surfaces and the peripheral edge surface being defined by the surface layer.

公开(公告)号：US20230304909A1

公开(公告)日：2023-09-28

申请号：US18022178

申请日：2020-08-19

Applicant: Aalto University Foundation SR

Inventor： Jaakko Timonen ,  Robin Ras ,  Mika Latikka

IPC: G01N13/02

CPC classification number: G01N13/02

Abstract: A method of determining surface properties of interest of a surface. The method comprises providing a magnetic liquid and applying it onto a part of the surface in the form of a droplet. The droplet contacts the surface and it is subjected to a magnetic field. The lateral position of the magnetic field maximum is changed relative to the surface to drag the drop magnetically along a predetermined length of the surface following a path. The retentive force exerted on the droplet during its movement is measured in order to collect data as the drop moves along the surface, and the surface properties of interest are determined from the collected data. The method can be used for studying wetting properties and, in one embodiment, the method is used for assessing homogeneity and potential contamination of a surface.