  A novel method to investigate the compaction behaviour of cohesive powders is
presented. As a sample, a highly porous agglomerate formed by random ballistic
deposition (RBD) of micron sized spherical particles is used. A nanomanipulator
deforms this small structure under scanning electron microscope observation,
allowing for the tracking of individual particle motion. Defined forces are
applied and the resulting deformations are measured. The hereby obtained
results are compared to results from threedimensional discrete element
simulations as well as macroscopic compaction experiments. Relevant simulation
parameters are determined by colloidal probe measurements.
