title: Preparation of thin ceramic monofilaments for TEM observation with novel embedding processes.
abstract: An applicable method to prepare transmission electron microscopy specimens from ceramic fibers for longitudinal and cross-sectional observations is investigated. The method includes novel embedding processes to fix fibers, a polishing process using a self-manufactured device to get uniformly low thickness (40 μm for L-fiber, 60 μm for C-fiber), a one-side dimpling process to grind the specimen to near electron transparency (about 5 μm in thickness for both L-fiber and C-fiber) and an efficient ion milling process using calculated parameters. These techniques are reliable to accomplish the preparation with high quality in a relatively short time. Many factors related to the preparation processes are discussed.
authors.affiliation: College of Materials, Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramic Fibers (Xiamen University), Ministry of Education, Xiamen 361005, China.
authors.forename: Siwei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zude
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Litong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yanyan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lifu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D002516:Ceramics; D006652:Histological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D007477:Ions; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D007477:Ions