Sample preparation
Scanning electron microscopy -Images, applications and developments

The current metal sample is solid, a very good electrical and thermal conductor, and non-volatile. It is therefore easy to observe significant micro-relief on these materials:

• breaks ;

• machined or corroded surfaces ;

• surface deposits ;

• of polished and etched sections in much the same way as in optical metallography, the etching creating a significant micro-relief of the microstructure through preferential dissolution of the various phases and/or accentuated dissolution at the interfaces (grain boundaries and phase boundaries);

• of unetched polished sections (in backscattered or absorbed electrons).

All that's needed is for the sample surfaces to be as clean as...