Government of the United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of Commerce

University System of Maryland

Richard S Gates

Stephen M Hsu

Jia-Ming Gu

Tsi-Neng Ying

Gheorghe Stan

Yu-Shu Wang

An intermittent contact atomic force microscope includes: a cantilever configured to receive a contact resonance modulation; a sample disposed proximate to the cantilever; a contact resonance modulator in communication with the cantilever and configured to provide the contact resonance modulation to the cantilever; and a scan modulator in mechanical communication with the sample to provide a scan modulation to the sample. Also disclosed is a process for performing intermittent contact atomic force microscopy, the process includes: providing a dual modulation microscope including: a cantilever configured to receive a contact resonance modulation; a sample disposed proximate to the cantilever; a contact resonance modulator in communication with the cantilever and configured to provide the contact resonance modulation to the cantilever; and a scan modulator in mechanical communication with the sample to provide a scan modulation to the sample; subjecting the cantilever to the contact resonance modulation; modulating the cantilever at a contact resonance frequency; subjecting the sample to the scan modulation; and modulating the sample at a scan modulation frequency to perform intermittent contact atomic force microscopy.

Intermittent contact resonance atomic force microscope and process for intermittent contact resonance atomic force microscopy

The present invention provides a method for machining hard materials using the machining fluids containing long chain alcohol in which the machining fluid is applied to a machining tool and then lubricates the machining of the workpiece by the machining tool and protects the machining tool during machining. The method is particularly useful when used with machining tools having a Mohs hardness of at least 9 and is most particularly useful when used with diamond machining tools.

Methods for machining hard materials using alcohols

Oxygen-containing compounds, particularly compounds wherein the oxygen is present in OH-groups, such as alcohols, sulfonic and carboxylic acids, or metal salts thereof, serve as lubricants for ceramic materials, particularly silicon nitride materials under high stress and high load conditions.

Oxygen-containing organic compounds as boundary lubricants for silicon nitride ceramics

Aluminum hydroxides are used as solid lubricants for aluminum oxides, cercs and other materials having oxide surfaces. Aluminum oxide hydroxides and aluminum trihydroxides are preferred compositions for such lubricating purposes. In particular, the use of boehmite in an aqueous solution significantly reduces frictional coefficients between contacting surfaces.

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Ijamsville, MD, United States of America

Richard S Gates