Microscopy lab services in Chelmsford, MA? MicroVision Laboratories, Inc. has been providing businesses, consultants and other testing laboratories with expert microscopy and analytical services since 2003. Our client base covers a broad spectrum of industries including semi-conductors, aerospace, electronics, biomedical, ceramics, optics, pharmaceuticals, mineralogy, metallurgy, thin films, environmental, membranes filtration and industrial hygiene.
Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive xray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) was used to identify the particles. The SEM showed an elevated concentration of iron and iron oxide in the impacted areas. The backscatter electron (BSE) image which correlates brightness in the image with atomic density, highlighted the iron particles that were embedded in the tile and the EDS spectrum confirms the PLM Image chemical composition of these higher density particles. See a few extra details at visit website.
The client was contacted with the results, and was curious as to what the source of these particles might be. After consulting with the office manager, it was determined that some pieces of furniture present had relatively significant amounts of direct water exposure, and were subsequently dried a number of times during remittance construction. Inspection of these pieces of furniture showed that they had high density, close packed foam cushions of a type similar to the particles observed in the surrounding area, which had been broken down by the repeated wet/dry cycle.
Have you always been located in Chelmsford, MA? No, for the first four years MicroVision Labs operated at 15 A Street, Burlington, MA. In 2007 we moved to our present location in Chelmsford, MA. What business designation does MicroVision Labs have? MicroVision Labs is designated as a veteran owned small business. How many staff members does MicroVision Labs have? MicroVision Labs is a small business employing 5-10 full-time, part-time, and contract employees.
Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS): While in a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), samples are exposed to high energy electrons in a vacuum, which generates X-rays through secondary electron transitions. Variations in electron configuration specific to each element generate different energy electrons, and thus different signature energy peaks, indicating which elements are present in the sample. Analysis is performed only on areas which are exposed to the electron beam, facilitating precise control of the analyzed area. This means the composition of very small areas or particles in a sample can be taken. Since EDS is performed in the SEM chamber, a quick and easy interrogation of the surface materials as viewed on the SEM is possible. This can be expanded to include the entire sample, please see our Elemental Mapping page. Additionally, relative amount of the elements present can be calculated, generating composition percentages. See a few more info on https://microvisionlabs.com/.
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.