Eds testing providers with MicroVision Laboratories, Inc. right now? Also, the color EDS map highlights the iron particles in the mineral filled PVC floor. These iron particles were concentrated in areas were the tile showed signs of impact which indicated some metallic object impacted the tile leaving behind small particles and over time the materials oxidized which created darker spots in the tile. The data indicated that a significant portion of the dust was from the insulation in the attic. The contractor had replaced a portion of duct work running to the master bedroom. During this replacement, fiberglass insulation was knocked into the ducting. The small glass insulation fibers were spread through the AC ducts and settling out of the air throughout the house. The client was relieved to know what was causing their skin irritation and the significant dust build up. Using the results garnered from the analysis from MicroVision Labs they were able to have the contractor clean out the duct work and act to prevent further spread of the insulation fibers and properly clean up the settled dust in the house that was the cause of the homeowner’s skin irritation.
The SEM was used to examine the crystal morphology, and the EDS spectrum showed primarily carbon and oxygen, with small amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous. This indicated an organic material as the primary component. Because the SEM-EDS analysis showed the material was primarily a carbon based organic crystalline material, a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) examination was performed on the suspect material. This analysis provides necessary information about the functional groups of the organic material in order to identify the unknown organic.
MicroVision Labs is owned and operated by a career microscopist, John Knowles, who understands the needs of our clients. Our emphasis on helping our clients solve problems, not just providing data, sets us apart from other labs. We have the technology and knowledge to find answers to your most difficult challenges, helping you succeed at every step. Can I come in to see my samples analyzed? Yes, our clients are always welcome to come in while their samples are being analyzed. For much of the work we do, it is mutually beneficial for our clients to be present to help direct their project since they can provide expertise about their samples. Some of the services we provide such as polished cross sections have time consuming steps making it impractical for a client to stay to watch everything. In those cases it is recommended that you come in initially to explain what you need done and come back at a later time to see the finished product. Find extra info on read more.
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.
Do you do any animal testing? No. Do you analyze any tissue samples or blood samples? No. We do not do any blood analyses and we are not set up to prepare tissue samples. What are some of the cool samples you have looked at under the scanning electron microscope? We have seen 10,000 year old Wolly Mammoth hair, meteorites, an artificial heart valve, civil war bullets, insulin pumps, rare colonial coins, a kidney stone, and a few things we can’t talk about. But some of the more mundane samples, like wood or salt crystals, have proven to be extremely interesting subjects to image.
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. Explore a few extra details at https://microvisionlabs.com/.