Preparation of ceramic fibre TEM cross-sections using ultramicrotomy and ion beam thinning methods |
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Authors: | R. LI,I. WADSWORTH,J. YOUNG,& R. Acheson |
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Affiliation: | Materials Research Institute;, School of Science and Mathematics;, School of Engineering, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S1 1WB, U.K. |
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Abstract: | ![]() The preparation of specimens for detailed TEM microanalysis of micrometre-diameter, ceramic fibre cross-sections is described. The starter material is ceramic fibre in powder form and both ultramicrotomy-based and ion beam thinning-based methods are described. Requirements for specimens of uniform and adequate thinness, for easy selection of representative fibre cross-sections within the same specimen and for a reliable and time-efficient preparation method, resulted in choice of the ultramicrotomy-based method and the associated development of a novel extrusion and sedimentation technique of embedding the fibres to provide necessary pre-alignment and packing. |
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Keywords: | Ceramic fibre fibre cross-sections ion beam thinning TEM specimen preparation ultramicrotomy |
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