Application Lab – Microscopy

The Microscopy Application Lab is a platform dedicated to the microstructural and microscopic characterisation of ceramic materials and glass. It is organised mainly around a comprehensive FIB-MEB analysis platform and a micro-XRF, as well as equipment for analysing the surface of materials in general.

EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGIES

FIB-FESEM high-resolution scanning electron microscope
- Extra-large analysis chamber, Multi-GIS: 5 gases, nano manipulator
- Resolution of 0.7 nm at 15 keV and < 2.5 nm at 30 keV
- Ion ablation
- 3D EDS-EBSD analysis
- STEM: (BF, DF, HADF), 0.7 nm at 30 keV
Routine scanning electron microscope JEOL JCM-6000 : ×10 to ×60000 SEI, ×10 to ×30000 BEI and EDS analysis
Micro-XRF
- Mapping resolution: 15 µm and 100 µm, 1.2 mm collimator
- Detection of elements from 5 < Z < 96 (from carbon to americium)
- Transmission X-ray detector
- Analysis in controlled atmosphere: vacuum, partial vacuum, helium
Non-contact 3D roughness tester
- Maximum target height 128 mm
- Display resolution 0.5 nm
3D microscope: analysis area 1 mm (high magnification mode) and 10 mm (low magnification mode)
- Accuracy from 2 µm to 5 µm depending on mode
Polarising reflection and transmission microscope ZEISS
- Transmitted light or combination of transmitted and reflected light
- Brightfield, darkfield, phase contrast, fluorescence, polarisation

AUXILIARY PLATFORM EQUIPMENT

Cross Section polisher ILION+ II GATAN
Vacuum evaporation systems: high-resolution Au/Pt/Pt-Pd, gold and carbon
Plasma Cleaner Zepto (Application Lab 1D-2D Ceramics Lab): air, argon, oxygen (Application Lab 1D-2D Ceramics Lab)
Binocular magnifiers
Reflection-polarisation microscope LEICA DMRM

ASSOCIATED PROJECTS

GEOSLAGS : Creation of a complete geopolymer value chain integrating by-products from the steel industry in Wallonia (Greenwin cluster project, 2023-2027)
COLCAST : Improving the high temperature performance of colloidal bonded refractory castables (projet Cornet, 2021-2023)
PRECERUS
HYBRILUX
TECH2FAB