White Light Confocal Microscopy Research Articles

Parameter study of self-absorption effects in Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence–X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure analysis of arsenic

Total reflection X-ray Fluorescence (TXRF) analysis in combination with X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) analysis is a powerful method to perform chemical speciation studies at trace element levels. However, when measuring samples with higher concentrations and in particular standards, damping of the oscillations is observed. In this study the influence of self-absorption effects on TXRF–XANES measurements was investigated by comparing measurements with theoretical calculations. As(V) standard solutions were prepared at various concentrations and dried on flat substrates. The measurements showed a correlation between the damping of the oscillations and the As mass deposited. A Monte-Carlo simulation was developed using data of the samples shapes obtained from confocal white light microscopy. The results showed good agreement with the measurements; they confirmed that the key parameters are the density of the investigated atom in the dried residues and the shape of the residue, parameters that combined define the total mass crossed by a certain portion of the incident beam. The study presents a simple approach for an a priori evaluation of the self-absorption in TXRF X-ray absorption studies. The consequences for Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) and XANES measurements under grazing incidence conditions are discussed, leading to the conclusion that the damping of the oscillations seems to make EXAFS of concentrated samples non feasible. For XANES “fingerprint” analysis samples should be prepared with a deposited mass and sample shape leading to an acceptable absorption for the actual investigation.

Surface characterisation of daguerreotypes with the optical metrological technique of confocal microscopy

This paper presents non-perturbing techniques of optical and surface metrology applied to surface studies of daguerreotypes. Daguerreotypes are positive images developed directly on the surface of silvered copper plates. The image is a submicrometre, ultra fine structured surface that exceeds the resolving power of the optical microscope for surface examination. Confocal white light microscopy is shown to be a useful technique for examining the three-dimensional ultra fine structure of the daguerreotype image. This technique provides quantitative information of surface characteristics using established surface roughness parameters to document the daguerreotype surface. Examination at this level can measure changes due to environmentally induced deterioration and provide comparative data of before and after chemical and physical treatment. Confocal microscopy shows considerable potential in the evaluation and documentation of both daguerreotype condition and treatments performed on the image structure. Confocal microscopy was used in the close examination of the Southworth and Hawes portrait of an unidentified man and it demonstrated the ability to unambiguously identify and quantify surface damage. The daguerreotype of an unidentified woman wearing a bonnet was treated with ammonium hydroxide solution to remove tarnish and surface changes were followed with confocal microscopy.

Scratch test method: Energy dissipation and crack morphology

Abrasive wear is one of the most dominant wear mechanisms in industrial applications. Abrasive particles groove the metallic surface under various tribological interactions. Different wear mechanisms show a major influence on the abrasive wear behaviour, e.g. depending on the kinematic properties of abrasive particles. The scratch test method can be used to investigate a two-body-abrasion on a lab-scale and is defined as an ideal single tribological contact. Depending on the material behaviour, a certain amount of elastic and plastic deformation occurs during the scratch test. Especially, the characteristics of plastic deformation can give important information about the wear behaviour of the material investigated. The objective of this work is the characterization of selected material properties by the use of a standard scratch tester (Millennium 100, TRIBOtechnic) in combination with special analysis methods, e.g. SEM, confocal white light microscope, and Matlab©. The main focus is laid on the characterization of plastic deformation behaviour correlated with energy dissipation during grooving. Furthermore, a detailed study on the interface properties of multi-phase materials is done. Tests were carried out on single-phase materials with hardness in the range between 270–1100 HV5. The selected single-phase materials can be divided into brass materials, martensitic chromium steels, and complex high-alloyed Fe-based materials. Further investigations were done on multi-phase materials with Ni-based matrix and high content of synthetically added tungsten carbide (WC) with focus on crack initiation and direction of crack propagation. The influence of matrix hardness as well as carbide properties (e.g. shape, content, and orientation) are related to the crack behaviour of the composite material investigated. Results showed a strong correlation between crack morphology and matrix hardness. A soft metallic matrix (450 HV) tends to stop carbide-cracks in the interface, whereas a hard metallic matrix (600 HV) provides less resistance against crack propagation.

Improved adhesion for thermoplastic polymers using oxyfluorination

Industrial applications of thermoplastic polymers are often limited by their poor adhesion properties. In this work the effect of surface oxyfluorination on the adhesion properties was investigated for polyethylene (PE), polyoxymethylene (POM), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyamide 6 (PA6). The adhesive joint strength was quantified using lap-shear tests. These results were correlated with the changes in the chemical composition of the surface, determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), in the surface free energy, measured by the contact angle method, and in the topography, using white-light confocal microscopy. The adhesive strength is strongly improved for all four polymers, but the degree of this increase depends on the polymer type. The surface free energy shows a similar trend for all four polymers. A high surface free energy exceeding 50 mN/m was observed after oxy-fluorination, whereby the polar component was strongly predominant. Surface topography measurements show no significant increase of the surface roughness. So the effect of oxyfluorination results primarily in increased wettability and polarity, due to changes of the chemical composition of the surface. XPS measurements confirm the integration of fluorine and oxygen groups in the polymer chain, which correlates with the increased polarity.

Effect of Er:YAG, CO2 and diode laser irradiation on surface properties of zirconia endosseous dental implants

Zirconia implants (ZI) are becoming more popular in implant dentistry, as a result of their favorable esthetic outcome. However, little is known about the impact laser application has on this material in the course of peri-implantitis treatment. The objective of this investigation was to analyze the influence of Er:YAG, CO(2) and diode laser irradiation on polished ZI. Yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) ceramic disks were irradiated at different power settings with either an Er:YAG, CO(2) or diode laser. The surface of the disks was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal 3D white light microscopy (CWLM). In addition energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis was performed on all disks. Six specimens were used for each parameter set of each laser. SEM analysis demonstrated that, regardless of the power settings, neither the diode laser nor the Er:YAG laser caused any visible surface alterations to ZI. The results of the CWLM were in agreement with the SEM pictures. However, Er:YAG irradiation did penetrate through the disks. At various power settings, the CO(2) treatment was characterized by material cracking and melting. The increased roughness values (from CWLM) of the ZI underlined the SEM observations. In contrast to diode and Er:YAG laser irradiation, the CO(2) laser revealed distinct surface alterations to zirconia at various laser parameters. However, the Er:YAG laser cannot be recommended for the treatment of ailing implants, as the laser beam penetrates the material. In this respect, currently, diode lasers seem to be the only laser systems offering surface preservation and safety in the treatment of peri-implantits with ZI.

Fabrication of TiO2‐coated epoxy replicas with identical dual‐type surface topographies used in cell culture assays

The goal of this study was to reproducibly generate samples with complex surface topographies and chemistries identical to a "master surface" and to test their response in cell culture using rat calvarial cells. Negative replicas of dual-type topography were fabricated using dental impression material with half of the surface exhibiting smooth and rough topography, respectively. Positive epoxy resin replicas were cast from the same negative replica eight times consecutively and coated with a 60-nm thin film of titanium dioxide using a vapor deposition technique. Atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, confocal white light microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated that TiO(2)-coated epoxy replicas had surface topographical features and surface compositions nearly indistinguishable from the original titanium master surfaces. The described technique showed high reproducibility over at least eight generations of replication using the same negative replica. Rat calvarial osteoblasts proliferated just as well on dual topography surfaces as on single topography surfaces. The advantage of the dual-type substrates is that they facilitate comparison within a single culture dish, thus eliminating dish-to-dish variation as well as saving material, time and costs compared to the usual method of evaluating surfaces in separate dishes.

Factors affecting the measurement of roughness factor of surfaces and its implications for wetting studies

Roughness factor is widely used for topography characterization of surfaces. The measurement of meaningful values of roughness factor depends on the instrument settings, e.g. spatial resolution and scan-size, the instrument characteristics (voxel dimensions), the post-treatment of discrete data array (tessellation algorithm), and finally the nature of the surface texture (e.g. fractal). To analyze the influence of all these parameters on the value of roughness factor and evaluate the influence of each parameter, different synthetic (mathematically defined) surfaces and acid-etched/passivated titanium surfaces were used. The titanium surface topographies were studied using two different microscopes: white light confocal microscopy (WLCM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). In decreasing order of influence, roughness factor values are sensitive to the specific surface nature (fractal or non-fractal), the spatial resolution, the scan-size and the tessellation algorithm, whereas the instrumentation does not seem to be an important parameter in this study. The effect of the variability in the roughness factor depending on the above parameters in interpretation of the Young's contact angle and solid–vapor interfacial energy was studied based on the apparent contact angle observed and the Wenzel's equation. It was found that depending on how roughness factor is measured variations up to 20% in the Young's contact angle or solid–vapor interfacial energy may be found.

A white light confocal microscope for spectrally resolved multidimensional imaging

Spectrofluorometric imaging microscopy is demonstrated in a confocal microscope using a supercontinuum laser as an excitation source and a custom-built prism spectrometer for detection. This microscope system provides confocal imaging with spectrally resolved fluorescence excitation and detection from 450 to 700 nm. The supercontinuum laser provides a broad spectrum light source and is coupled with an acousto-optic tunable filter to provide continuously tunable fluorescence excitation with a 1-nm bandwidth. Eight different excitation wavelengths can be simultaneously selected. The prism spectrometer provides spectrally resolved detection with sensitivity comparable to a standard confocal system. This new microscope system enables optimal access to a multitude of fluorophores and provides fluorescence excitation and emission spectra for each location in a 3D confocal image. The speed of the spectral scans is suitable for spectrofluorometric imaging of live cells. Effects of chromatic aberration are modest and do not significantly limit the spatial resolution of the confocal measurements.

Topographic characterization of glazed surfaces

Detailed characterization of surface microstructure, i.e. phase composition and surface geometry, has become an important criterion of glazed ceramics. Topographic characterization is an important parameter in, e.g. estimating the influence of additional films on the average roughness of a surface. Also, the microscaled and nanoscaled roughnesses correlate with the cleanability and the self-cleaning properties of the surfaces. In this work the surface geometry of several matte glazes were described by topography and roughness as given by whitelight confocal microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Different measuring parameters were compared to justify the usefulness of the techniques in giving a comprehensive description of the surface microstructure. The results suggest that confocal microscopy is well suited for giving reliable topographical parameters for matte surfaces with microscaled crystals in the surfaces. Atomic force microscopy was better suited for smooth surfaces or for describing the local topographic parameters of closely limited areas, e.g. the surroundings of separate crystals in the surface.

Real-time restoration of white-light confocal microscope optical sections

Confocal microscopes (CM) are routinely used for building 3-D images of microscopic structures. Nonideal imaging conditions in a white-light CM introduce additive noise and blur. The optical section images need to be restored prior to quantitative analysis. We present an adaptive noise filtering technique using Karhunen-Loéve expansion (KLE) by the method of snapshots and a ringing metric to quantify the ringing artifacts introduced in the images restored at various iterations of iterative Lucy-Richardson deconvolution algorithm. The KLE provides a set of basis functions that comprise the optimal linear basis for an ensemble of empirical observations. We show that most of the noise in the scene can be removed by reconstructing the images using the KLE basis vector with the largest eigenvalue. The prefiltering scheme presented is faster and does not require prior knowledge about image noise. Optical sections processed using the KLE prefilter can be restored using a simple inverse restoration algorithm; thus, the methodology is suitable for real-time image restoration applications. The KLE image prefilter outperforms the temporal-average prefilter in restoring CM optical sections. The ringing metric developed uses simple binary morphological operations to quantify the ringing artifacts and confirms with the visual observation of ringing artifacts in the restored images.

Machining NiTi micro-parts by micro-milling

The machinability of NiTi by milling has been examined using solid carbide end milling cutters. First results were obtained from machining simple slots applying TiAlN-coated tools with a diameter of 0.4 mm. The machining process was evaluated in terms of tool wear, cutting forces and machining quality. The tool wear and work piece quality was analysed with a scanning electron microscope and a white-light confocal microscope. Despite the poor machinability of NiTi good results concerning tool wear and shape accuracy of the milled slots were achieved. Essential for a good machining result is the application of minimum quantity lubrication. This clearly reduces NiTi adherences compared to dry machining. Work piece quality is improved and tool life is extended. Based on these results different structures could be produced by micro-milling.

Comparison of In Vivo Confocal Microscopy of Human Cornea by White Light Scanning Slit and Laser Scanning Systems

To compare in vivo corneal imaging by scanning slit white light and laser confocal microscopy systems. Twenty healthy individuals and 10 patients with corneal dystrophies including Fuchs, granular, Map-Dot-Fingerprint dystrophies, and amiodarone-induced keratopathy were examined with the ConfoScan 3 (Nidek Technologies) scanning slit white light confocal microscope equipped with x40 front lens (Zeiss) and the Rostock Cornea Module (RCM) for HRT II (Heidelberg Engineering) laser confocal microscopy system equipped with Olympus x60 front lens. The endothelial cell density counts were performed and results were compared. For additional validation of endothelial cells density results, separate counts were carried out using the specular microscope SP-1000 (Topcon). The healthy and pathologically changed corneal structures are imaged in a similar manner by both systems. The differences in quality of acquired images in contrast and brightness between the systems are debatable, although the laser system was more efficient for epithelium imaging and white light scanning slit was better for evaluation of endothelium. Some of the examinations completed with the laser system, which requires applanating its front lens to the cornea, imaged dark striae in posterior stroma and Descemet membrane folds, resembling those observed in corneal pathologies, whereas most were probably induced by the pressure applied to the cornea during examination. All the results of cell density (for patients and for subjects with no ophthalmic disease) counts performed with the RCM (laser system) were higher than those with the ConfoScan 3 (scanning slit system) by 36.7% +/- 11.9% (SD) and 30.2% +/- 11.3% higher than SP-1000 (specular). The difference in cell counts between the RCM and other methods was increasing at higher cell densities. The morphologic findings in examinations performed with the laser confocal microscopy system are generally comparable to white light scanning slit confocal microscopy. Direct applanation of the front lens of the laser system to the cornea may generate certain changes in confocal microscopy outcomes, including imaging of Descemet membrane folds and dark lines in stroma, which should be differentiated from pathologic alterations. Comparison of the endothelium cell density counts obtained with the 2 systems should be made cautiously because significant differences might occur--RCM configured with the Olympus x60 front lens was found to overestimate the results compared with both CS3 and SP-1000 microscopes, with the range of disparity increasing for higher cell densities.

White Light Confocal Microscopy of Preserved Human Corneas From an Eye Bank

To verify the possibility of using a commercially available ophthalmologic white light confocal microscope for imaging optical sections of donated corneas preserved at 4 degrees C, especially for endothelial evaluation. Sixteen corneas donated to the Warsaw Eye Bank but excluded from use in surgery for serological or morphologic reasons were examined using a ConfoScan 3 confocal scanning microscope (Nidek Technologies, Padova, Italy) and a Konan Eye Bank KeratoAnalyzer specular microscope (Konan Medical, Inc.; Hyogo, Japan). Images of corneal structures were obtained, including epithelium, corneal nerves, stroma, and endothelium. The endothelial cell density was calculated for both microscopes, and the results were compared. For images obtained with the specular microscope, mean (+/- SD) endothelial cell density was 2168.6 +/- 404.0 cells/mm; for confocal microscope images, mean +/- SD was 2090.9 +/- 369.1 cells/mm. There was no significant difference between the methods. White light confocal microscopy can be used for high-magnification imaging of corneas preserved in an eye bank with the 4 degrees C method, and images obtained permit evaluation of endothelium. Although the quality of confocal microscopy images of eye bank corneas is generally lower than that achieved with in vivo examinations, and although technical adaptations are needed for easier and safer application to corneas intended for transplantation, confocal microscopy is a promising new tool for evaluation of collected corneas.

In Vivo Laser Confocal Microscopy Findings for Bowman’s Layer Dystrophies (Thiel–Behnke and Reis–Bücklers Corneal Dystrophies)

To investigate microstructures in patients with genetically confirmed Bowman's layer dystrophies (Thiel-Behnke or Reis-Bücklers corneal dystrophy) using an in vivo laser scanning confocal microscope. Single-center, prospective, comparative small case series. Two patients from one pedigree (a 29-year-old woman and 58-year-old man) with Thiel-Behnke corneal dystrophy (Arg555Gln [R555Q] heterozygous missense mutation of human transforming growth factor beta-induced [TGFBI] gene) and 3 patients from one pedigree (a 70-year-old woman, 58-year-old man, and 14-year old man) with Reis-Bücklers corneal dystrophy (Arg124Leu [R124L] heterozygous missense mutation of the TGFBI gene) were examined. Two patients with Reis-Bücklers corneal dystrophy exhibited recurrence after corneal transplantation. All patients were examined by slit-lamp biomicroscopy. The center and the peripheral cornea of both eyes also were examined by in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopey. Image analysis was used to identify the corneal epithelial and stromal deposits correlated with each disorder. Selected images of the corneal layers were evaluated qualitatively for the shape and degree of light reflection of the deposits. In each dystrophy, distinct characteristic deposits were observed in the epithelium and Bowman's layer, respectively, by in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy. In Thiel-Behnke corneal dystrophy, the deposits in the epithelial basal cell layer showed homogeneous reflectivity with round edges accompanying dark shadows. In contrast, deposits in Reis-Bücklers corneal dystrophy in the same cell layer showed extremely high reflectivity from small granular materials without any shadows in all cases. In each dystrophy, Bowman's layer was replaced totally with pathological materials; the reflectivity of those materials is much higher in Reis-Bücklers corneal dystrophy than in Thiel-Behnke corneal dystrophy. In vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy is capable of identifying in vivo corneal microstructural changes related to Thiel-Behnke and Reis-Bückler corneal dystrophy with a higher resolution than is available with slit-lamp biomicroscopy or in vivo white-light confocal microscopy. As a result, this device may enable differentiation of Thiel-Behnke and Reis-Bücklers corneal dystrophy in vivo. In vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy also may be a valuable tool for further research into the corneal dystrophies, especially to follow the natural course.

Surface characterisation in forming processes by functional 3D parameters

Tribology in metal forming plays a significant role for process feasibility and process quality. Especially in micro forming the influence of the tribological condition is very essential due to an extensive increase in friction which is observed while scaling processes from macro to micro. As friction depends considerably on the surface topography of tool and workpiece, functional surface characterisation concerning the tribological properties becomes even more relevant. Standardised 2D roughness-measurements and -parameters are notable to fulfil this task satisfactorily. Hence the surface has to be measured three dimensionally. An appropriate method is given by confocal white light microscopy. New 3D parameters are defined with respect to the functional behaviour of the surface. These parameters are derived from a mechanical-rheological model which describes the transmission of the forming load from the tool to the workpiece. In order to calculate these parameters, the software WinSAM has been developed. Especially the maximum closed void area ratio and the volume of closed lubricant pockets have already proven their capability of characterising the tribological behaviour of the surfaces in the macro world. It is expected that these parameters are a basis for a functional characterisation of the topography in micro-forming applications as well.

Dental microwear texture analysis: technical considerations

Dental microwear analysis is commonly used to infer aspects of diet in extinct primates. Conventional methods of microwear analysis have usually been limited to two-dimensional imaging studies using a scanning electron microscope and the identification of apparent individual features. These methods have proved time-consuming and prone to subjectivity and observer error. Here we describe a new methodological approach to microwear: dental microwear texture analysis, based on three-dimensional surface measurements taken using white-light confocal microscopy and scale-sensitive fractal analysis. Surface parameters for complexity, scale of maximum complexity, anisotropy, heterogeneity, and textural fill volume offer repeatable, quantitative characterizations of three-dimensional surfaces, free of observer measurement error. Some results are presented to illustrate how these parameters distinguish extant primates with different diets. In this case, microwear surfaces of Cebus apella and Lophocebus albigena, which consume some harder food items, have higher average values for complexity than do folivores or soft fruit eaters.

Effects of crystal structure and grain orientation on the roughness of deformed polycrystalline metals

Surface roughening during tensile deformation of polycrystalline aluminum, iron and zinc is investigated using white light confocal microscopy and orientation imaging microscopy. A height–height correlation technique is used to analyze the data. The surface obeys self-affine scaling on length scales up to a correlation length which approximately equals the grain size and above which no height correlation is present. The self-affine scaling exponent increases initially with strain and saturates at a value around 0.9 for aluminum and at 0.8 for iron and zinc. A linear relation is observed between root mean square roughness and strain. The observed grain scale roughening is explained as arising from orientation differences between neighboring grains and depends on the available number of slip systems in the material. Orientation imaging microscopy is used to investigate the influence of the orientation of the surface grains and subsurface grains on the topography. It is found that the Schmid factor of surface grains alone is not enough to predict local deformation and evolution of surface height. In particular, grains with high Schmid factor may show less deformation than expected. It is shown that subsurface grains influence the roughness and it is hypothesized that a high cumulative Schmid factor on a cross-section below a point at the surface leads to a depression at the surface.

Corneal and Conjunctival Manifestations in Fabry Disease: In Vivo Confocal Microscopy Study

To describe the microscopic corneal and conjunctival findings in patients with Fabry disease (FD) related keratopathy by using in vivo confocal microscopy. Prospective observational case series. Twelve eyes of six patients affected by Fabry disease, belonging to two different families, underwent in vivo confocal microscopic examination. Corneal and conjunctival morphology were assessed by means of a scanning slit corneal confocal white-light microscopy and confocal laser-scanning microscope. Confocal microscopy examination evidenced two different types of corneal epithelial changes. The three hemizygous patients presented bright hyper-reflective intracellular inclusions located within the basal epithelial cells, while the three heterozygous patients showed fine diffusion of reflective substance at the level of superficial, basal epithelial cells and basal membrane, in all eyes. The complex basal-Bowman's membrane appeared irregular, distorted, and nonhomogeneous in all subjects. Stromal increased reflectivity attributable to haze and epithelial ingrowth with bright intracellular inclusions was noticed in one hemizygous patient. In all patients, conjunctival epithelial involvement represented by bright roundish intracellular inclusions was evidenced, appearing more pronounced in tarsal than in bulbar conjunctiva. Although FD-related cornea verticillata attributable to glycosphingolipids accumulation is considered to be primarily a corneal disease, in vivo confocal microscopy demonstrated structural alterations throughout the entire ocular surface epithelia. It is still unclear whether the different type of corneal epithelial lesions observed for hemizygous and heterozygous patients is related to different physiopathological mechanisms. Confocal microscopy may assist ophthalmologists in the diagnosis of FD-related ocular surface and corneal manifestations.

Effect of Titanium Tetrafluoride, Amine Fluoride and Fluoride Varnish on Enamel Erosion in vitro

This study aimed at evaluating the effect of 1 and 4% titanium tetrafluoride (TiF₄) gels, amine fluoride (AmF) 1 and 0.25% and a fluoride varnish (FP) on the prevention of dental erosion. Two experimental groups served as controls, one with no pretreatment and another one pretreated with a fluoride-free varnish (FP-blanco). Dental erosion was modelled using bovine enamel samples submitted to alternate cycles of acid exposure in citric acid and remineralization in artificial saliva. Calcium loss of all samples involved in the study was quantified by atomic absorption spectroscopy and erosion depths were estimated. Two samples of each experimental group were also analyzed by white light confocal microscopy. The cumulative erosion depth (in µm) after 72 min was: TiF₄ gel 1% 8.29 ± 0.39; TiF₄ gel 4% 8.27 ± 0.55; AmF 1% 8.69 ± 0.66; AmF 0.25% 8.86 ± 0.33; FP 3.43 ± 1.07; FP-blanco 14.86 ± 1.59 and control 9.77 ± 0.49. A statistically significant protective effect (p ≤ 0.001) was found only for the group pretreated with the fluoride varnish. Within the limitations of an in vitro study it may be concluded that topical applications of the fluoride varnish tested have a protective effect on the prevention of dental erosion.

Analysis of Residual Stresses in Micro Powder Injection Moulded Micro Bending Specimens Made of Zirconia

Analysis of the residual stress state, the microstructure and surface topography of ceramic microcomponents made of Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2 produced by micro powder injection moulding were performed. During the production of the microspecimens sintering conditions were varied. The measurement of residual stresses has been carried out using the MAXIM (MAterials XRay IMaging) diffractometer at HASYLAB beamline G3 at DESY in Hamburg (Germany). The microstructure and surface topography of differently moulded specimens were examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a confocal white light microscope type NANOFOCUS. The findings are used to establish correlations between process parameters and characteristics of the microcomponents. These will allow to improve the production process with respect to the mechanical properties of the microcomponents.