Abstract
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A dedicated force rig has been used to measure the adhesion of 10 μm radius zirconia particles to a number of polymer substrates including a polyester used as a paint binder. The force rig is capable of placing and maintaining the particle in contact with a heated substrate then measuring the force required for removal. At temperatures below the glass transition temperature of the substrate the removal force is of the same order as (but a bit less than) that calculated using the JKR theory and an estimated work of adhesion. The difference may be caused by the small roughness of the particle or contamination of its surface. At temperatures above the glass transition temperature the adhesion force increases by about a factor of 50 as the toughness of the interface is increased by viscoelastic deformation in the polymer.