Measuring surface properties and oxidation of coal macerals using the atomic force microscope

This paper describes a method using AFM to identify individual macerals and precisely measure their surface properties through the use of various AFM modes and analyses. This method has the potential to yield useful information about the physical properties of coal macerals (e.g. topography, roughness, hardness, and elastic modulus), and also about the effects of natural oxidation on coal macerals and the intentional oxidation of individual macerals to enhance either optical properties or surface porosity.