Modelling the adhesion of spheres: when the form of the interaction is complex

It is well known that in some cases, the Johnson-Kendall-Roberts model is not adequate to deduce adhesion energies from pull-off force values obtained from surface forces measurements. Then, the decay length of the interaction becomes significant, and the data are more adequately modelled by the Maugis model (D. Maugis, J. Colloid Interface Sci, 150 (1992) 243). In this paper, we consider the problem of modelling the data when the interaction is made up of two components, with very different decay lengths. We show that this case cannot be handled by the Maugis model directly and propose an adequate generalization of the Maugis model. This general model allows one to accurately split the total adhesion energy into its various components. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.