| Summary: | This study investigates the mechanical and surface properties of spherical carbon particles. Sub-micrometer carbon spheres were previously used as oil additives to improve the tribological performance of oils, and as anode material to enhance the storage of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. In the current work, internal structure and chemical analysis of these carbon sphere particles was conducted via focus ion beam scanning electron microscopy, and the results revealed that the carbon sphere particles are pure carbon particles with a solid internal structure. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and nano-indenter were utilized to explore the mechanical properties (hardness and elastic modulus) of carbon sphere particles. The obtained results showed that the carbon spheres have an elastic modulus in the range of 10 to 42 GPa, while their hardness is in the range of 0.5 to 2.6 GPa. Besides, the AFM scans confirmed that the carbon particles are entirely separated and devoid of agglomeration. These results support the viable use of carbon sphere particles in various engineering applications.
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