As a service (with operator)
Do’s regarding the SEM
Do name your sample clearly and unambiguously. Do this even if you’ll be present
during the microscopy as I may have to prepare/coat the sample before your time.
Do write down on an accompanying piece of paper what your name and
institution/company is if you’re new to the SEM. You may also include your contact
information, deadline or if you want to be present during the microscopy. The project
name and what your sample is, if it’s not obvious, are helpful.
Do contact me the moment you know you’ll have/get an urgent sample for the SEM,
even if you don’t know the exact time. A scheduled time is easier to swap with
another if the date changes.
Do think about what information you want to get from your sample and prepare it
accordingly. For example, if you want the cross-section of a thin material, be very
careful when cutting/polishing.
Do use gloves when touching your sample and anything that will go into the SEM.
Do dry your sample thoroughly before bringing it to me. If the sample is porous and
has been in a liquid, please dry it overnight in a low-temperature oven or incubator, if
possible.
Do wash an oily sample thoroughly with for example acetone or petroleum ether.
Remember that oil might be in cracks in the sample. Use vacuum to get oil out of
cracks and then wash the sample again. Repeat as many times as necessary.
Do use ethanol to clean away accidental fingerprints.
Do clean your sample well from dust, chips from grinding and dirt.
Do bring me solid samples as I can’t analyze gaseous or liquid samples with the
SEM.
Do know that the best elemental analyses will be gotten from a sample with a
homogenous and even surface, even though analysis of an irregularly shaped sample
is also possible.
Do keep in mind when doing an elemental analysis that you might get carbon,
aluminum and/or copper from the sample holder/mounting. If you want to analyze
these elements, let me know beforehand.
Do tell me if your sample is electrically conductive and/or sensitive to heat.
Do ask me if you have any questions.
Don’ts regarding the SEM
Don’t touch your sample or anything that will go into the SEM with your bare hands.
Don’t assume that the SEM can see through glass like an optical microscope. If it
isn’t on the surface of the glass, the SEM won’t see it.
Don’t bring me wet samples.
Don’t bring me solid samples from which dust/powder is coming free, mount them in
resin if at all possible.
Don’t try to dry the sample in the coater or the SEM as it might have an adverse
effect on the sample. It might cause cracking of the surface of the sample.
Don’t bring me oily (fat, fingerprints) samples. Oil is a SEM killer! The oil will
evaporate in the high vacuum of the SEM and attach itself to the detectors and
electronics, degrading their performance over time.
linus.silvander@abo.fi