INVESTIGATION OF ICE-SOLID INTERFACES BY FORCE MICROSCOPY : PLASTIC FLOW AND ADHESIVE FORCES

The interaction between oxidized silicon atomic force microscope tips and vapor-deposited ice in a pure water vapor environment is studied using force curve measurements. The adhesive pull-off force and the indentation depth are approximately proportional to the maximum applied force for ice temperatures between −5 °C and −15 °C. A simple plastic flow model is used to deduce yield strengths comparable to previous macroscopic measurements at similar time scales (∼0.01 s). The rapid dynamics of ice surfaces above −20 °C allows the indentation to be partially filled in between force curves.