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Improved Methods and Novel Techniques for Jet Electropolishing of TEM Foils*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 February 2011

Bernard J. Kestel
Bernard J. Kestel*
Affiliation:
Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439
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Abstract

Experience has shown that the difficulties encountered in jet polishing of TEM foils can be minimized by the selection of equipment and an electrolyte appropriate for each material. The use of a jet polishing instrument for more than one type of specimen preparation after minor modification will be presented. Some insights on the relationship and manipulation of the parameters involved in achieving well polished TEM foils having appropriate surface quality, thin area, and perforation size will be included. Methods used to develop new electrolytes for specific purposes and the results of their use on both conventional and superconducting materials will be shown. A technique to calibrate equipment for more reproducible specimen hole size, use of new electrolytes on various materials, the salvage of unsatisfactory foils, and thinning of undersized specimens will be reviewed.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 199: Symposium W – Specimen Preparation for Transmission Electron Microscopy of Materials II , 1990 , 51
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1990

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Footnotes

*

Work supported by the U. S. Department of Energy, BES-Materials Sciences, under Contract W-31-109-Eng-38.

References

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