X-ray energy dispersive spectrometer for environmental scanning electron microscope

显微组织检查是任何研究材料的加工、性能和微结构关系的基本步骤。在这方面，分析扫描电子显微镜已经成为一种极其强大的显微结构检查技术，因为它能够提供几乎所有的微观结构、化学和EBSD-OIM系统的结晶学数据。在马尼托巴大学，来自不同学科的平均25-30名研究生和5-8名博士后研究员需要使用可靠和有效的分析扫描电子显微镜设施。然而，他们可以使用的唯一此类设施是传统的扫描电子显微镜，它配备了功能不佳的EDS，带有过时的分析软件，由于其电子设备和计算机系统使用的平台的原因，无法更换这些软件。由于年代久远，它还经常出现故障。由于我们负担不起服务合同，我们不得不依靠制造商的服务工程师来协助我们的技术人员进行维修，由于温尼伯距离服务中心很远，维修工作有时可能需要数周时间。这大大增加了我们的研究生完成学业所需的时间。此外，它不适合于非金属材料、腐蚀研究等。为了缓解这个问题，并使该设施适合非金属、氧化和腐蚀材料的研究，我们在2007-08年度为我们的环境扫描电子显微镜申请了RTI拨款，为我们的环境扫描电子显微镜购买了一台现代EDS系统。同时，为了进一步提高EDS系统的能力，Ojo博士申请了CFI启动拨款，以获得需要EDS系统的电子背向散射衍射系统。虽然Ojo博士成功地为EBSD获得了CFI资金，但Cahoon博士却没有。因此，我们再次为EDS系统提出RTI拨款申请，以便我们的学生将拥有一个功能齐全的现代分析ESEM系统，以及Ojo博士由CFI资助的EBSD-OIM系统，他目前由于EDS不可用而无法使用该系统。为了反映我们的需要，马尼托巴省联合大学已同意从其运营基金中出资10%的EDS费用。

Microstructural examination is a fundamental step in any study dealing with the processing, properties and microstructure relationships in materials. In this regard analytical scanning electron microscope has become an extremely powerful technique for microstructural examination because of its ability to provide almost all of the microstructural, chemical and, with EBSD-OIM system the crystallographic data. At the University of Manitoba on the average 25-30 graduate students and 5-8 post-doctoral research fellows from various disciplines require the use of reliable and functioning analytical SEM facilities. However, the only such facility available to them is a conventional SEM equipped with an ill-functioning EDS with obsolete analytical software that cannot be replaced due to the age of its electronics and the platform its computer system uses. It also suffers from frequent breakdowns due its age. As we cannot afford a service contract, we have to rely on the manufacturer's service engineers to assist our technologist to do the repairs, which at times can take weeks due to the distant location of Winnipeg from service centers. This has considerably increased the time our graduate students are taking to complete their studies. In addition, it is not suitable for non-metallic materials, corrosion studies etc. To alleviate this problem and to make the facility suitable for research on non-metallic, oxidized and corroded materials, an RTI grant application was made to acquire a modern EDS system in 2007-08 for our environmental SEM. At the same time to enhance the EDS system's capabilities further, Dr Ojo had applied for a CFI starter grant to acquire an electron back scatter diffraction system that requires the availability of an EDS system. Though, Dr Ojo was successful in obtaining CFI funds for the EBSD, Dr Cahoon was not. Therefore, an RTI grant application for an EDS system is being made again so that our students will have a functioning and modern analytical ESEM system complete with Dr Ojo's CFI funded EBSD-OIM system, which he currently can not use due to unavailability of an EDS. As a reflection of our needs Univesity of Manitoba has agreed to contribute 10% of the cost of EDS from its operating funds.