Abstract
The ESEM (Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope) is an instrument that circumvents a limitation of conventional SEM, in that samples can be examined in a gaseous atmosphere rather than a vacuum. With a heating stage, dynamic processes can be observed in situ at high temperature. In this study, A201 aluminium alloy samples with globular structures have been examined in the semisolid region. In addition, a manipulator has been installed onto the heating stage to allow the probing of semi-solid surfaces. The paper shows the potential for manipulating semi-solid materials in order to better understand thixotropic phenomena.
Highlights
An Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM) is a modification of a traditional Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) in that it allows the sample to be imaged under a low pressure atmosphere of the operator’s choice [1]
The ESEM can be used with a heating stage
The Gaseous Secondary Electron Detector (GSED) is placed directly above the sample, around the pole piece, and is used to acquire images when the heating stage is in use; other detectors are sensitive to the light emitted by hot samples
Summary
An Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM) is a modification of a traditional Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) in that it allows the sample to be imaged under a low pressure atmosphere of the operator’s choice [1]. 400 ̊C, a heat shield, with a small hole to allow imaging, must be placed above the ceramic cup to protect the detector. A number of researchers have used the ESEM with a heating stage to carry out in situ studies of dynamic processes in metallic systems at high temperatures [2,3,4]. One of these papers [2] represents a preliminary study of a metallic system in the semi-solid state.
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