What Are Some Of The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Using Electron Microscopy

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is a powerful materials assay technique. Information technology's uniquely designed to capture compelling, high-resolution images of a sample's surfaces. In fact, depending on the sample, nosotros dare say the resulting photos often verge on art.

Of course, these images aren't just eye processed. From microelectronics to nutrient processing, SEM images provide invaluable topography and limerick information for companies across a range of industries, helping ensure production quality, analyze failure potential, and inform product evolution. And when SEM is used in conjunction with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), the analysis also provides qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis data nigh the sample.

Read on for a more than consummate picture of the advantages and disadvantages of SEM.

Advantages of Scanning Electron Microscopy

Here are some benefits of using SEM with EDS for materials label and failure analysis .

ane. Resolution.

This test provides digital epitome resolution as depression as 15 nanometers, providing instructive information for characterizing microstructures such as fracture, corrosion, grains, and grain boundaries.

two. Traceable standard for magnification.

Considering all imaging is calibrated to a traceable standard, information technology's easy to use analysis—such coating thicknesses, grain size determinations, and particle sizing—to saved images.

iii. Chemical assay.

SEM with EDS provides qualitative elemental analysis, standardless quantitative assay, 10-ray line scans, and mapping. This data can be used to examine product defects, identify the elemental composition of foreign materials, assess the thickness of coatings, and decide grain and particle size.

Disadvantages of Scanning Electron Microscopy

While an excellent test for surface typography and chemical assay, some samples are non a good fit for SEM with EDS. Hither are a few reasons to consider different types of materials assay .

1. Vacuum environment.

In most cases, SEM samples must be solid and vacuum-compatible. Nevertheless, college pressures tin exist used for imaging of vacuum-sensitive samples that are nonconductive and volatile. For more information, read our comparison of conventional SEM, variable pressure SEM (VPSEM), and field emission SEM (FESEM) .

2. Artifacts are possible.

Samples that are strong insulators must be coated—usually with gold or carbon—before testing. Still, this process can outcome in artifacts. That said, preparation and analysis by a knowledgeable SEM testing lab ensures that these artifacts take minimal touch on testing results.

Is SEM a Fit for Your Materials Analysis Needs?

Scanning electronic microscopy services provide both loftier-resolution typographical imaging besides as qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis—benefits that are valuable to industries such as full general manufacturing, microsystem electronics, medical devices, food processing, research and development, insurance, and litigation support.

Contact the states for more information about SEM or one of our other testing services. Whether or not you know what your testing needs are, we accept a solution for you. We're known for our expert support and extremely fast turnaround .