Table 1.
testing variables | length, L a (μm) | AFM cantilever stiffness (N m−1) | ramp sizeb (nm) | velocity (μm s−1) | triggerc (nm) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
small forces (<10 nN) | 20–50 | 0.018–0.045 | 3000–5000 | 0.05–41.9 | 10–150 |
large forces (>500 nN) | 21–62 | 8.9 | 5000–20 000 | 5–20 | 60–none |
The position of the cantilever on the hair is essential for the calculation of the torque.
Ramp size is the maximum distance that the sample can travel vertically when a single force–distance curve is measured. Ramp sizes had to be very large to ensure that the cantilever loses contact with the hair between measurements.
The trigger defines the maximum deflection of the cantilever when recording a force–distance curve.