Desktop scanning electron microscope for examination of materials undergoing various processes

在不同的项目和NSERC DG研究计划中，我们需要一台桌面扫描电子显微镜(SEM)来研究不同的材料。这台仪器将对我以及我系里的同事和教员的研究有很大的帮助。桌面扫描电子显微镜将允许我们调查和可视化我们正在研究的不同材料的结构，并开发数学模型、方法和技术。在我的案例中，扫描电子显微镜将被用来研究热处理过程中对作物生物量物理方面的影响。这对我们来说非常重要，因为我们正在使用电子技术，使用微波(MW)和射频(RF)能量在生物材料内产生体积热，这与传统的热传输场景不同，传统的热传输场景是将热从外部热源传递到材料。扫描电子显微镜将帮助我们解决关于介电加热对不同生物被加热的物理结构的影响的知识缺口，因为材料的介电性能随着水分含量的减少而随时间变化。扫描电子显微镜将有助于可视化和量化物理变化，这些数据将有助于开发准确描述不同材料内加热和干燥过程的数学模型，这将有助于制定微波和射频加热控制策略。扫描电子显微镜对于我目前利用微波辅助热解从农业残渣中生产高质量生物炭的项目，以及对大麻和亚麻脱胶以获得高质量纤维的优化，以及未来计划生产氢焦的工作，也将是非常宝贵的。我所在系的同事和教职员工也非常需要扫描电子显微镜，用于从植物材料中提取成分、用于开发强化食品的封装、纳米材料和生物聚合物的生产，以及对含有和不含有生物炭的土壤的研究。对这种设备的需求持续增长，因为这项技术，特别是桌面模式，以快速和及时的方式提供信息，帮助调查人员了解正在研究和开发的过程，并加快研究的步伐。

A desktop scanning electron microscope (SEM) is requested for our studies on different materials in different projects and NSERC DG research programs. This equipment will be of great use in my research and that of my colleagues in my department and faculty. The desktop SEM will allow us to investigate and visualize the structure of different materials that we are working on, and to develop mathematical models, methods, and technologies. In my case, the SEM will be used to study the effects of heat treatment processes on the physical aspects of crop biomass during the process. This is very important to us since we are working with electro- technologies that use microwave (MW) and radio frequency (RF) energy to generate heat volumetrically within the biomaterial, which is different from the classic heat transfer scenario where heat is transferred from an external heat source to the material. The SEM will help us to address a knowledge gap on the effect of dielectric heating on the physical structures of different biomasses being heat since the dielectric properties of the material changes over time as moisture content decreases. The SEM will help to visualize and quantify physical changes and this data will be useful in developing mathematical models that accurately describe the heating and drying process within different materials that will be useful in developing control strategies for heating with MW and RF. The SEM will also be invaluable for my current projects into production of high quality biochar from agricultural residues using MW-assisted pyrolysis, and optimization of retting of hemp and flax to obtain high quality fibers, and for future planned work into production of hydrochar. Colleagues in my department and faculty also have much need for an SEM for their work on extraction of components from plant materials, encapsulation for development of fortified food products, production of nanomaterials and biopolymers, and studies on soils with and without biochar. The demand for this equipment continues to grow since this technology, and specifically a desktop model, provides information in a rapid and timely manner that helps investigators to understand the process being studied and developed, and facilitates the pace of research.