Sem/edx services by Microvisionlabs.com? Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) identifies the elements present in a sample by analyzing the X-rays generated by the electron beam of the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), making it an indispensable tool. Since X-rays are only generated from the area of the surface excited by the small electron beam, spectra of individual areas or particles can be obtained. Spectral information can therefore be generated for an entire field of view by scanning the beam, providing an elemental map. With the high count rate and excellent signal to noise ratio of our advanced QDD EDS detectors, high resolution data sets are collected and analyzed in minutes, rather than days. This elemental mapping technique allows our clients to immediately visualize the chemical landscape in their samples. Additionally, since the entire spectra is stored for each pixel, areas of interest that are identified later can be examined in detail, without ever having to re-image the sample. Other labs can’t touch the quality and visual impact of the elemental maps we produce here at MicroVision Labs. See extra details on ftir surface analysis.
Problem: A client was a manufacturer of beverages, bottled water, and other drinks. They received a customer complaint through one of their distributors, which indicated that a customer had been drinking a bottle of water, and as they neared the bottom of the bottle, found a mysterious white powder floating in the bottom. The customer returned the bottle and complained. The client hoped to identify the powder so they could both satisfy their end customer, as well as identify any potential problems in their manufacturing or bottling process.
MicroVision Laboratories’ analytical experts were able to meet with the QC Engineers and develop an analytical plan as to which solder joints to cross section and inspect. The client not only wanted to determine if there were any significant issues with the solder joint but also determine that there was a good intermetallic bond between the tin/lead solder and the copper wires of the chip packages.
Do you do any animal testing? No. Do you analyze any tissue samples or blood samples? No. We do not do any blood analyses and we are not set up to prepare tissue samples. What are some of the cool samples you have looked at under the scanning electron microscope? We have seen 10,000 year old Wolly Mammoth hair, meteorites, an artificial heart valve, civil war bullets, insulin pumps, rare colonial coins, a kidney stone, and a few things we can’t talk about. But some of the more mundane samples, like wood or salt crystals, have proven to be extremely interesting subjects to image.
The data indicated that a significant portion of the dust was from the insulation in the attic. The contractor had replaced a portion of duct work running to the master bedroom. During this replacement, fiberglass insulation was knocked into the ducting. The small glass insulation fibers were spread through the AC ducts and settling out of the air throughout the house. The client was relieved to know what was causing their skin irritation and the significant dust build up. Using the results garnered from the analysis from MicroVision Labs they were able to have the contractor clean out the duct work and act to prevent further spread of the insulation fibers and properly clean up the settled dust in the house that was the cause of the homeowner’s skin irritation.
MicroVision Laboratories, Inc. has been providing extensive expertise in micro-analytical techniques (FE-SEM, SEM, EDS, XRF, FTIR testing, PLM, X-Ray Imaging, DIC) and sample preparation since 2003. Our cutting edge, high-performance equipment combined with our solutions-focused customer service provide critical solutions for clients hailing from a broad range of industries ranging from medical to semiconductor, and from environmental to textile. Explore even more details at microvisionlabs.com.