Microscopy grinding techniques

Chen, Y., and Odler, I., "Effect of fhe Grinding Technique on the Shape of Cemenf Particles," Proceedings of the I4th International Conference on Cement Microscopy, International Cement Microscopy Association, Costa Mesa, California, 1992, pp. 22 -28. 

In summary, sample preparation is an essential part of microscopy and there are many techniques (and variations) that can be used. The approaches very commonly used to prepare specimens for analysis are as follows The sample needs to be cut to size using one of the slicing methods outlined. The cut sample is either set in a mold or mounted externally on a polishing mount. This step is followed by a series of coarser to finer grinding on SiC grit... 

Sampling and subsequent preparation techniques determine the nature and extent of useful information obtained [33]. Microtomy is probably the best technique. To preserve the microstructure, it is advisable to embed, grind and polish the sample. Unfilled plastic samples for optical microscopy are prepared by using a microtome to cut thin sUces, typically 3-20 fim thick, fi om the plastic part. These slices are then placed between two glass slides and examined using transmitted polarised Ught. Magnifications up to lOOOx are typically used. Thus, optical microscopy allows one to see the microstructure of the plastic. 

Other researches have used less sophisticated techniques than FIB to reveal and define the electrode. For example, metal-coated commercially available probes are insulated with either Parylene C [30] or a photoresist layer [31] and then the apex of the tip exposed using either mechanical grinding [30] or UV light, exposed through a mask [31]. However, the drawback of using these approaches is the inability to produce electrodes of reproducible dimensions and the difficulty in characterizing electron dimensions, using, for example, electron microscopy. 

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