Multi-Mode Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for Morphological and Micro-structural Analysis of Advanced Materials

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As manufacturing technology and advanced materials evolve rapidly, so does the need for material characterization. Analyzing microstructure and morphological features of advanced materials such as additive manufactured (AM) metals and metal-based nanocomposites, ceramics, composites, semiconductors, and polymers offers insight to their properties, characteristics, and mechanisms that govern their behavior during service life. In this context, laboratories with up-to-date equipment are necessary tools in researchers' inventory. This application seeks funding to acquire a Multi-Mode Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) capable of analyzing conductive/nonconductive coated/uncoated samples (Environmental SEM or ESEM) that is imminently needed for the research of 6 Faculty members of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Cluster (AMRC) in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Ontario Tech University. AMRC is a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment with synergies on advanced materials and manufacturing. Our research requires multiscale characterization of advanced materials such as additive manufactured (AM) metals, ceramics, composites, polymers, and semiconductors with extensive industrial applications. ESEM allows for accurate morphological and micro-structural characterization and enables us to study phenomena such as tool wear modes and progression pattern as well as the effect of process parameters on micro-structures and mechanical properties of the aforementioned classes of materials. The acquisition of the ESEM will highly support the applicants research that all fall within the "Advanced Manufacturing for 21st-Century Innovation" thematic area of Ontario Tech's Strategic Research Plan. The research activities supported by the requested equipment will enhance Canada's manufacturing sector, as a large contributing element to Canada's economy and allow Canadian manufacturers to offer more advanced yet competitive products in the fast-growing global market. In addition to gaining fundamental theoretical and experimental knowledge specific to their field of research, the highly qualified personnel (HQPs) who will be trained using the requested equipment will become highly skilled in sample preparation and material characterization, which will ultimately prepare them for their future career, whether that be in academia or industry.