Microscopy and elemental mapping providers in Chelmsford, MA


Posted On Nov 28 2020

Ftir analysis and elemental mapping company in Chelmsford, MA? Approach: MicroVision Labs’ staff consulted with the client, and determined that, unfortunately, there could be a number of potential sources of a white material. Even before the bottle with the suspended material arrived, it was determined that there was less than 50 mL of water remaining, and likely less than a gram of material suspended in the water. The client was aware that this material could represent precipitated minerals from the source water, a polymer residue from the bottles, some form of biological tissue that might have formed despite sterilization procedures, or could very well represent some completely unforeseen foreign material. The issue facing the client is how to have the material tested, as most tests that they might request for one or the other of these known potential sources would destroy or alter the sample. Choosing a test was therefore something of a gamble, because if they tested for calcium (mineral precipitate) and it came up negative – that didn’t actually tell them what the powder was, just that it didn’t have any calcium. Based on this conversation, the non-destructive, specialized testing at MicroVision Laboratories was chosen as the best choice.

Translucent or transparent coatings on metallic or semi-conductor substrates are very difficult to image due to their reflective nature. Nomarski/DIC imaging is an effective method for accentuating differences in thickness, density or the optical index in these cases. This analysis enhances and highlights subtle features with brilliant color gradients and captures them with a high resolution digital imaging system. Let us bring out your sample’s hidden features.

What if I want a service not listed in your services list? At MicroVision Labs the list of services which we provide to our clients is constantly growing. So if you don’t see what you are looking for give us a call or use the Contact Us tab. Also don’t forget to check our Additional Services Page to see if it might be listed there. Can you identify a contamination or unknown for us? Yes, we call that an Unknown Material ID and we routinely work on that kind of project. We have a number of individual tests designed to classify unknown materials. When combined with our extensive suite of equipment, these tests allow us to identify virtually any material. Give us a call and talk to one of our knowledgeable staff for more information. Read additional info at click here.

The scan from left to right shows a high tin concentration (green line) while areas of higher lead concentrations (blue line) were not intersected by the line scan. At the interface between the tin/lead solder and copper (red line), there is a mixture of the solder and copper which is the intermetallic layer. The EDS Map provides a nice visual mixture of colors which shows the intermetallic layer while the line scan clearly shows the intermetallic with the elemental graph.

MicroVision Laboratories, Inc. has been providing extensive expertise in micro-analytical techniques (FE-SEM, SEM, EDS, XRF, FTIR testing, PLM, X-Ray Imaging, DIC) and sample preparation since 2003. Our cutting edge, high-performance equipment combined with our solutions-focused customer service provide critical solutions for clients hailing from a broad range of industries ranging from medical to semiconductor, and from environmental to textile.

Examining the sample with a polarized light microscope (PLM), it was darker and coarser than expected for a mold sample. The dust appeared to be a closed cell, synthetic blown foam material, and all from the same source. The black color was likely due to pigment particles added to color the foam. Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy was performed on the foam particles. The spectrum showed a mixture of spectral features, associated with vinyl acetates, polyurethane, and cellulose or other sugar-like polymers. Based on these features, a common urethane acetate foam was determined as the likely source material. See even more info on https://microvisionlabs.com/.

Last Updated on: November 29th, 2020 at 10:33 am, by


Written by Petrescu Dan