26.03.2017 Views

Materials for engineering, 3rd Edition - (Malestrom)

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

12<br />

<strong>Materials</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>engineering</strong><br />

SEM<br />

A schematic diagram of a SEM instrument is given in Fig. 1.7. The beam<br />

produced by the electron gun is condensed and demagnified by the<br />

electromagnetic lenses to produce a ‘probe’ which is scanned over the surface<br />

of the sample. Electrons emitted from the specimen surface are collected and<br />

amplified to <strong>for</strong>m a video signal <strong>for</strong> a cathode-ray tube display. Typical<br />

resolutions of 10 nm may be obtained, with a depth of focus of several<br />

millimetres. It is this combination of high resolution with a large depth of<br />

focus that makes SEM well suited <strong>for</strong> examining fracture surfaces.<br />

Accelerating potential<br />

and filament current<br />

Lens I<br />

current<br />

Lens 2<br />

current<br />

Scan<br />

generator<br />

Lens 3<br />

current<br />

Specimen<br />

chamber<br />

Mag. control<br />

Photomultiplier<br />

Scan<br />

amplifier<br />

Vacuum pumps<br />

Video<br />

amplifier<br />

Visual<br />

Displays<br />

Photo<br />

1.7 Schematic diagram of a scanning electron microscope.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!