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  • 1.  Sample Prep Users Group

    Posted 11-03-2021 04:34
    Hi All,
    Welcome to the Sample Prep users group.  We had about 40 attendees here in Phoenix and a lively conversation.  This is a forum to keep the conversation going.  As Chair of this group along with our co chairs Cecile, Nathan, and Kah Chin, we want to invite you to ask questions and share answers with other users.  This is your forum but we have some ground rules.  In brief, this is a professional forum so please avoid shameless vendor advertising or conduct not in keeping with the intent of the forum.
    Thanks,
    Jim

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    James Colvin
    CEO
    F A Instruments
    Newark CA
    (510) 851-5555
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  • 2.  RE: Sample Prep Users Group

    Posted 11-04-2021 07:33
    Dear James,

    Just what I have been looking for, and probably other members of the archaeometallurgy committee and wider community. Archaeometallurgy has its own particular demands on sample prep, most often because of the small size of the samples,: 3mm is a big one. Other issues are that sample surfaces are usually corroded and there is a need to produce a good cross-section through the corrosion to display all the layers. Particle retention is important:  inclusions range from soft (lead, copper sulphide) to hard (slag, hard oxides). Etching can be challenging as well since there is a lot of surface relative to the volume of metal and over-etching round the edges can be troublesome. 

    These issues are also of interest to the Historical Metallurgy Society where I am a council member. We are looking at establishing a small number of special interest groups, and one for physical metallurgy and metallography will undoubtedly include discussions on sample prep. It is good to know that there is another group we will be able to talk to.

    Regards,
    Peter Northover

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    Peter Northover
    Retired
    University of Oxford
    +44 1865 820543
    peter.northover@retired.ox.ac.uk
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  • 3.  RE: Sample Prep Users Group

    Posted 11-06-2021 23:06
    I think many of us have had to develop our own practices for handling samples that are often small and hard to replace. For example, in the area of high temperature corrosion, the techniques of coating of the corrosion films, often with Cu, to preserve the surface is still as much an art as a science. I think this sample prep group, to exchange these techniques is an excellent idea and offers the opportunity to exchange useful practices. 
    Joe

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    Joseph Tylczak
    Metallurgist
    Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory
    Albany OR
    (541) 928-2193
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  • 4.  RE: Sample Prep Users Group

    Posted 11-04-2021 10:32
    Jim and co -

    I might have missed a prior message.  Hence, can you please
    point me to the "scope" of this Sample Prep users group?

    thank you,
    - Jim

    Long Island Chapter






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  • 5.  RE: Sample Prep Users Group

    Posted 11-04-2021 13:30
    In answer to our scope.  There are 4 users groups with emphasis on semiconductor failure analysis.  We use mechanical cross section, focused ion beam, Plasma, 3d tomographic xray and chemical enhancement to look at intermetallic connection failures in boards and packages.  Sample prep also includes sem and tem inspection of these interfaces.  While I am part of the sample prep group, we also have FIB, system in package and nanoprobing.  While there is some overlap for materials, we are specific to semiconductors.  We have to be very precise to a handful of angstroms to our target in some cases.  This may be helpful in your field to adapt our techniques to yours and conversely so.  I would also invite you to run your own threads too as you see appropriate as this is a new platform we are trying.
    Thanks,
    Jim


    ------------------------------
    James Colvin
    CEO
    F A Instruments
    Newark CA
    (510) 851-5555
    ------------------------------

    Education courses