AFM (atomic force microscopy) is used in a seemingly endless range of disciplines, from biology, chemistry and engineering. This is due to its high resolution and versatility, which make it a very useful and powerful tool for imaging the diverse nanoscale world in liquid, air and vacuum environments. AFM use can be highlighted across the disciplines, here are some prime examples of AFM use in specific discipline areas. Biology - Nanoscale mechanics of brain abscess: an atomic force microscopy study A brain abscess is a life-threatening swelling of part of the brain which arises from an infection. In this example, the viscoelastic properties: Young’s modulus and hysteresis (H) of three layers of brain abscess tissue were measured using atomic force microscopy for the very first time. The measurements were performed immediately after surgical removal where the tissue was rough and inhomogeneous in terms of its thickness. Therefore, an AFM instrument with a large z-range movement had to
The main concern for all engineers is to ensure that their machine or the appliance runs as efficiently as possible - to that end, vibration isolation systems are usually top of the list. Every piece of machinery, from the smallest laptop to a huge band saw, vibrates. Obviously, the amplitude of these vibrations varies significantly. These vibrations can create friction, imbalances, excessive noise and even failure in some mechanical devices. For heavy industrial applications, these vibrations can pose a significant risk to productivity and safety. Causes of Abnormal Vibrations Before we can tackle minimising these vibrations, we need to understand the cause. These can vary and can result from combined factors. These factors generally include: Wear For example, a roller bearing can become pitted, a drive belt can break down or gears could chip. A result is a machine that is going to vibrate. Vibrations caused by additional factors can also result in wear and can go o