Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis
Microscopy is critical to understanding the structure and composition of the materials that make up our world. Biological materials like blood, tissue, and microscopic organisms such as viruses and bacteria are only fully understood when they can be viewed.
In manufacturing, microstructure or chemical analysis is often necessary to ensure product consistency and quality. In addition, manufacturing defects in a high-volume production environment can cost companies millions of dollars if not realized in QA inspection. Electron microscopy and microanalysis offers the ability to see beyond and understand the building blocks that drive the behavior of materials.
Thin Film Coatings Protect Samples and Enhance Imaging
Thin film deposition is often necessary to enable or improve the imaging of samples used in electron microscopy. The specific coating materials and techniques vary based on the unique requirements of the sample and the type of analysis. For scanning electron microscopes (SEM), a sample coating creates a very thin, continuous and conductive coating that inhibits charging, reduces thermal damage and improves the secondary electron signal required to generate three-dimensional-like images of the sample surface. For transmission electron microscopes (TEM), fine-grained, transparent, conductive carbon layers coat the sample to support imaged films on grids and backup replicas. Glow discharge for TEM is useful for making the grids hydrophilic.
Consistency and Repeatability are Key
When preparing samples for SEM or TEM, achieving consistent and repeatable results that are stable from test to test is a challenge. Denton Vacuum’s sample prep solutions are designed to ensure maximum repeatability for the highest confidence in the results, all while saving space in the lab:
