The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) is one of the most versatile and widely used tools of modern science as it allows the study of both morphology and composition of biological and physical materials.

Electron Microscopes allow the examination objects on a very minute scale. This examination can yield the following information:

• Topography

• The surface features of an object or "how it looks", its texture; direct relation between these features and materials properties (hardness, reflectivity...etc.)
• Morphology

• The shape and size of the particles making up the object; direct relation between these structures and materials properties (ductility, strength, reactivity...etc.)
• Composition

• The elements and compounds that the object is composed of and the relative amounts of them; direct relationship between composition and materials properties (melting point, reactivity, hardness...etc.)
• Crystallographic Information

• How the atoms are arranged in the object; direct relation between these arrangements and materials properties (conductivity, electrical properties, strength...etc.)

By scanning an electron probe across a specimen, high resolution morphology or topography images of a specimen can be obtained, with great depth of field at very low or very high magnifications. Compositional analysis of a material may also be obtained by monitoring secondary X-rays produced by the electron-specimen interaction. Thus detailed maps of elemental distribution can be produced from multi-phase materials or complex, bio-active materials. Characterization of fine particulate matter in terms of size, shape, and distribution as well as statistical analyses of these parameters, may be performed.

Our SEM is a state-of-the-art ultra-high resolution Scanning Electron Microscope with a modern digital image processing system. It is a very useful instrument for studying integrated circuitry (IC) wafers, photoresist evaluation, IC research and development and IC production techniques, as well as material science, biological and industrial research.
Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) is a spectrographic technique that identifies elemental composition within single particles in a sample matrix, providing qualitative and semi-quantitative information. Combining SEM and EDS techniques produces a powerful and versatile tool able to obtain wide ranges of information.

Typical Applications

• Microscopic feature measurement
• Verification of product integrity
• Thin coating evaluations
• Evaluation and identification of microstructures on sample surfaces
• Failure analysis
• Surface contamination examination
• Identification of inorganic inclusions or contaminants in polymers
• Mineral identification: allowing for the purity assessment of refined ore materials
• Analysis of metals or oxides: allowing for the evaluation of corrosion products