The effect of humidity, temperature, and drying duration on microparticle detachment force: insights into capillary-induced deformation at the particle–substrate interface

Abstract

We experimentally investigate how drying history influences microparticle–substrate adhesion in hydrophilic systems. By systematically varying air temperature, relative humidity, and drying duration under controlled conditions, we quantify the detachment force of individual microparticles. Air temperature emerges as the dominant factor: higher temperatures and lower humidity enhance adhesion, while prolonged drying generally reduces it, except under combined high-temperature and low-humidity conditions, where strong adhesion persists. Complementary scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results reveal drying-time-dependent changes in the particle–substrate contact size, consistent with capillary-induced compression of the contact zone followed by partial relaxation. These findings indicate that transient capillary stresses during evaporation deform the particle–substrate interface and leave a lasting imprint on adhesion strength. Overall, the study shows how capillarity, drying dynamics, and contact mechanics couple to regulate adhesion in colloidal systems, offering new insights into particle–substrate interactions in soft matter contexts.