Physical and Chemical Imaging

Seeing is believing! A picture can be the starting point for a complex investigation of material properties, or provide the answer to a problem in its own right. We can produce images of physical structure or chemical composition, on scales ranging from nanometres to centimetres.

We use instrumentation as commonplace as the ubiquitous optical microscope or as specialised as an imaging static secondary ion mass spectrometer (SSIMS)

Optical and electron microscopy are crucial in exploring the microstructure of materials such as polymer composites, catalyst granules or even food ingredients. The properties, such as toughness, catalytic activity or texture that define the value of the product, are often linked directly back to this microstructure so that exploring and understanding the structure provides the basis for improving the properties and hence the value.

Equally, in complex formulated products, optimum performance is obtained by ensuring that the critical component gets to the right place - whether it is depositing a fragrance in a shampoo product on the hair rather than down the drain or applying an expensive silver-loaded adhesive to just the right spot on an electronics package.

Methods such as Raman and InfraRed imaging, X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS or ESCA) and SSIMS are used to map out the chemical distribution of elements or molecular species with a resolution down to fractions of a micron.

Examples of the application of our imaging can be found within the Case Studies.