Metals

FE-SEM with EDS for Microanalysis

The FE-SEM electron microscope is equipped with a field emission source, four different detectors (BSE, SE2, InLens, STEM) and an X-ray emission detection sensor (EDS) for localised compositional analysis.

Its excellent imaging properties, combined with its analytical capabilities, make this instrument versatile and suited to a wide range of applications, such as materials development, defect analysis, process control, nanotechnology and analytical applications.

This instrumentation is particularly suited for:

  • Study and characterisation of ceramic, glass, metallic and composite materials.
  • Defect studies
  • Morphological and analytical study of particulates and micro- and nano-dispersed materials.
  • Qualitative determination of asbestos in bulk samples and airborne fibre concentration

OPTICAL MICROSCOPY

Instrumentation suited for:

Cultural heritage: study of samples to identify paint layers, pigments and other details relating to artworks and historical artefacts.

Materials analysis: study of microstructures, including grain size, inclusions and defects in metals, ceramics, glass and other materials.

Deposit evaluation: analysis of the thickness and morphology of surface deposits.

Defect and corrosion identification: detection of corrosive attack and other material defects. 

ICP-OES

ICP-OES technology enables the determination of metals across widely varying concentrations and in multiple matrices.

It is frequently used for environmental monitoring and to verify the compliance of raw materials and finished products with regulations or reference specifications, making it today the most versatile and widely used technique for this purpose.

Instrumentation suited for:

  • qualitative and quantitative analysis of metals in water (drinking, natural, wastewater)
  • analysis of soils, sediments, rocks and minerals to determine their composition.
  • heavy metal analysis.
  • characterisation of materials such as alloys, glass, ceramics, bricks. 

ICP-MS

ICP-MS technology enables the measurement of trace and ultra-trace element concentrations, down to picograms per litre, and allows highly accurate isotopic analysis.

Its advantages include sensitivity and precision, speed and simultaneous multi-element analysis capability, along with the versatility to analyse a wide range of organic and inorganic matrices; it can also be combined with various separation or mineralisation techniques, or with laser ablation systems for solid sample analysis. 

Instrumentation suited for:

  • monitoring heavy metals in water (drinking, natural, wastewater)
  • analysis of soils, rocks and minerals to determine their composition.
  • analysis of toxic elements (such as arsenic and lead).
  • isotopic analysis.
  • characterisation of materials such as alloys, glass, ceramics, bricks.