The analytical precision you need for your materials science research

 

As you advance your materials science research, cutting-edge tools and techniques can maximize your productivity while giving you the analytical precision you need. In the May issue, we discuss Thermo Fisher Scientific’s flexible approach to automation designed to give you full control over your experiments. We show you how our instruments can fortify your metals during the additive manufacturing process. We introduce you to elemental mapping software for the Thermo Scientific™ Phenom™ Desktop SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope). And we explain how our instruments can bolster the UV-curing process with the accurate rheological characterization of photosensitive materials. We hope you find this issue helpful.

 

 

How automated microscopy accelerates materials science research

 

Today, instrument automation is transforming materials science, freeing up scientists to spend more time on their analysis and less time operating their equipment. By automating everything from instrument alignments to image tuning to experiment workflows, researchers can gather more data in less time, avoid repetitive tasks, and maximize instrument uptime.

 

While many research labs are embracing the benefits of automation, some worry that it compromises understanding and prevents novice users from developing good instrument handling skills. Learn about our flexible approach to automated microscopy that enables users to drive high-quality scientific results while maintaining full control over their experiments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fortify your metals with assured additive manufacturing

 

Additive manufacturing (3D printing) makes it possible to create intricate metallic parts with relative ease. However, it can also introduce inhomogeneous metal mixtures, which can cause contamination with oxides and crystal size variations, resulting in a weak chemical composition.

 

The Thermo Scientific™ ARL™ EQUINOX 100 X-ray Diffractometer can help to reinforce the strength of your materials by making accurate materials assessments of a variety of metallic materials, including austenite and titanium powder. In addition to X-ray diffraction (XRD), quantitative analysis can be performed using the compact, benchtop Thermo Scientific ARL QUANT’X EDXRF Spectrometer. See how combining XRD and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (EDXRF) allows for a complete characterization of the materials used for additive manufacturing, leading to higher quality manufactured parts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elemental mapping software for the Phenom Desktop SEM

 

Thermo Scientific™ Phenom™ Elemental Mapping Software is designed to help researchers with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis by revealing the elemental distribution of their samples.

 

Compatible with Thermo Scientific Phenom Desktop SEMs (Scanning Electron Microscopes), the real-time mapping algorithm shows the live build-up of the selected element maps while storing the spectra of each pixel. Mapping can be done on the image as a whole or on a selected area.

 

See how this software can help you accurately measure the elemental composition of different areas at the highest EDS resolutions without compromising on speed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rheological characterization of photosensitive materials

 

Photochemical-induced curing using high-intensity ultraviolet (UV) radiation or UV curing offers several advantages over conventional industrial processes. Photosensitive materials are characterized, among other things, by faster curing reactions and better surface properties.

 

Rheology is an established measurement method to investigate the change of sample properties before, during, and after such photolytic curing reactions and to support new material development. Find out how Thermo Scientific™ rheometers and our comprehensive portfolio of measuring cells can be tailored for your UV-curing applications.