Coxem has introduced a new model of its compact ion mill CP-8000+. The device supports the standard cutting (“cross-sectioning”) and polishing (“flat milling”) modalities and can be operated intuitively via the integrated touchscreen.
We supported Bruker Nano in the world's first commissioning of a compact EBSD system on our Coxem Tabletop SEM-EDX. The installation went smoothly and after one hour we were able to record the first EBSD mappings ‒ Important step for the market introduction of the EBSD technology for SEM-EDX tabletop devices.
Coxem recently presented a new backscattered electron detector (BE) for their SEM-EDX systems, which impresses with its excellent sensitivity. The new BE detector is particularly interesting for applications that benefit from a high contrast of the atomic number Z.
Given the continuing shortage of protection materials for hospital staff during the Corona crisis, Helios experts have in the past weeks developed a safe procedure for refurbishing FFP masks. Helios is making this method publically available, so that all medical staff can be supplied with sufficient protective materials.
It is often surprising for our customers when we find hard mineral particles on their components during technical cleanliness analysis. Customers ask: "How can that be? We didn't find anything in our own cleanliness tests." The contamination of hard minerals is so important, because these particles have an abrasive effect and thus massively damage mechanical systems such as gears and motors.
Researchers from Bremen provided us with this interesting sample of volcanic ash, which we analyzed with our Coxem Tabletop SEM-EDX. In addition to the spongy structure of the fine ash particles typical of volcanic eruptions, we identified various microfossils, so-called diatoms.
The determination of the technical cleanliness according to VDA-19.1 or ISO-16232 is now an integral part of quality control and error analysis - because the cleanliness of components is decisive for the quality and error-free function of the product. In addition to particles, filmic contamination poses a problem, as the following example from quality assurance in the manufacture of electric drive systems shows.
Employees from the wood engineering department (Abteilung Holzingenieurwesen) sent us an aged wood sample with a typical discoloration. Using our Coxem scanning electron microscope, we imaged the microstructure in high resolution and performed an elemental analysis of the discoloration.
In order to answer the question of the whereabouts of microplastic particles from tire abrasion, new analysis methods are urgently needed to reliably identify and count these particles. We conducted a pilot study to test the possibilities of automated SEM-EDX analysis in quantifying tire abrasion in environmental samples.
