WHY IS SEM IMAGING USED TO STUDY STYROFOAM?
SEM imaging is an ideal tool to check the size and homogeneity of the cells in the polymer foam structure, and if the material has a closed or open cell structure. Other elements that can be studied are the foaming and cell formation efficiency, and how different agents influence these processes. Chemical microanalysis techniques (EDS) used in conjunction with scanning electron microscopy offers additional information about contaminants in the polymer foam.
Most polymer foams are good thermal and electrical insulators. This means when they are scanned by the electron beam in a microscope, sample charging with often occur. The combination of a bad thermal conductor and thin cell walls can also cause degradation of the cell structure. Such samples are called "beam sensitive", which means they can easily deform when scanned by an electron beam.
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Lambda Photometrics is the leading UK Distributor of Characterisation, Measurement and Analysis solutions with particular expertise in Instrumentation, Laser and Light based products, Optics, Electro-optic Testing, Spectroscopy, Machine Vision, Optical Metrology, Fibre Optics, Microscopy and Anti-vibration tables & custom solutions.
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LUXOR Gold Coater
The LUXORAu is an advanced, fully automated sputtering device that applies a fine grain gold coating from 1 to 100 nm thickness. This allows you to get the very best SEM imaging quality from your samples.
LUXOR’s unique A² technology generates a gold plasma and sprays it in a controlled and accurate manner, resulting in an extremely uniform, thin and homogeneous gold layer.
The LUXORAu is also renowned for its ease of use and quick, hassle-free operation.
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LUXOR Platinum Coater
The LUXORPt is a highly innovative, fully automated sputtering device which applies a fine grain platinum or gold coating from 1 to 100 nm thickness.
LUXOR’s unique A² technology assures that the gold or platinum is sprayed in a highly controlled and precise manner, resulting in an extremely uniform, thin and homogeneous coating.
This allows your scanning electron microscope to show the best possible image quality.
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LUXOR Sample Holder for Mounted/Embedded Samples
£533.00 £639.60The LUXOR sample holder for mounted/embedded samples can hold all types of samples that are mounted or embedded into resins with diameter ranging from 25 mm to 40 mm and height from 10 mm to 50 mm.
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LUXOR Gold Target
£806.00 £967.20Gold target Ø 30 mm, thickness 100 µm (99.999% purity) for use with both LUXORAu and LUXORPt
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LUXOR Platinum Target
£731.00 £877.20Platinum target Ø 30 mm, thickness 100 µm (99,999% purity) for use with LUXORPt
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LUXOR Vacuum Pump
£747.00 £896.40Two-stage roughing-pump with a pump capacity of 4.8 m³/h (80L/min)