Surface and structural material studies can help researchers better understand the microstructure of a coating. Chemical composition, manufacture, and processing procedures all have an impact on the coating's microstructure and surface properties. These features will have an impact on the chemical, physical, and mechanical properties, as well as the function and performance of the product in the intended application or formulation.
Alfa Chemistry scientists are experts in surface analysis, which includes a variety of factors that influence surface chemistry and other surface-specific properties. When surface data is required, we will select the most appropriate analytic approach to provide the best results. Surface coverage, molecule orientation, functionalization, contamination, and surface separation are all investigated and understood in our lab using various surface analysis and surface characterization techniques. We help you examine contaminants, stains, and changes on items and equipment with our surface analysis service.
Our Strength
Alfa Chemistry's expertise in surface analysis can help you gain a deep understanding of the microscopic characteristics and microstructures of your goods and samples down to the nanometer scale.
Adhesion and Bonding
Adhesion is the process of uniting two or more surfaces. Contaminants in or on the connection surface can cause failure in polymer encapsulation, surface pretreatment, and organic coating. Failures are possible if adhesives are employed. Impurities, oxide layers, or buried contaminants may diffuse to the adhesion surface during or after bonding, resulting in the metallic lead failure in microelectronics.
In a surface analysis laboratory examination, determining the root cause of adhesion and adhesion difficulties may necessitate the employment of surface-sensitive analysis techniques.
Cleanliness
Depending on the surface and substance of interest, evaluating surface cleanliness may require a variety of measurement methodologies. The discrepancies between the test sample and the control or reference sample are usually best highlighted using this method.
Understanding the potential sources of pollutants is frequently required when assessing cleanliness. Techniques with detection limits in the parts per million range, such as total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF), which only detects elemental species, or time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF)-SIMS, may be required for studying highly clean surfaces. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) may be an excellent choice if cleanliness is determined by the number of particles on the surface.
Morphology and Topography
Imaging techniques like optical microscopy or scanning electron microscopy are the greatest ways to assess morphology or "sample appearance" (SEM). These approaches can also provide quantitative information such as layer thickness.
To resolve the topography, multiple measures of roughness, step height, size, and feature size can be taken using an atomic force microscope (AFM), optical profilometry (OP), or stylus profilometry.
Fig 1. SEM, FESEM, and TEM images of the same polymer nanocomposite. (Karak N, et al. 2019)
Alfa Chemistry Surface Analysis Services
We are here to help you with any failure analysis. The cause of a change in surface qualities isn't always clear. As a result, we'll be on the lookout for you! Not only does our team of professionals supply statistics and numbers, but they also assist in determining the source of the test findings.
- Is the surface contaminated, or has the original material changed?
- Where does material failure originate?
- What is the fouling film's thickness?
From our extensive analysis system, we offer the most appropriate analysis approach for you and develop a specific analysis strategy. As a result, we'll be able to answer all of your inquiries and work together to solve your difficulties.
We provide frequent quality control and monitoring services in addition to failure analysis support. As a result, you've mastered all materials and manufacturing processes and can react quickly before quality issues arise.
To discover more about our analysis services, please select one of the choices below.
Reference
- Karak N, et al. (2019). “Chapter 1 - Fundamentals of Nanomaterials and Polymer Nanocomposites.” Nanomaterials and Polymer Nanocomposites. Raw Materials to Applications: 1-45.
