Sample Preparation and Manipulation for Microanalysis (1501), August 4–7, 2025 In-Person
COURSE OUTLINE & SYLLABUS
Course schedule: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. all four days. There will be a one-hour break for lunch and several short breaks throughout the day.
The course will consist of demonstrations plus hands-on training in a variety of techniques of small particle handling. Most of what is required to complete the course successfully will be presented in the lectures and course manual. Students are welcome to bring problems and samples for discussion, practice and analysis. There is no prerequisite for this course.
The course will consist of demonstrations plus hands-on training in a variety of techniques of small particle handling. Most of what is required to complete the course successfully will be presented in the lectures and course manual. Students are welcome to bring problems and samples for discussion, practice and analysis. There is no prerequisite for this course.
Day 1
- Setup of stereomicroscope and work area
- Introduction to tungsten needles, parking slides, and glass blocks
- Micropipettes and their uses
- Making tungsten needles, parking slides, glass blocks, and micropipettes
- Combining the use of tungsten needles and micropipettes
Day 2
- Introduction to polarized light microscopy (PLM): basic microscope setup and observations with the PLM
- Microchemistry
- Making and using mini coverslips for PLM preparation
Day 3
- Solvent extractions
- Basic FTIR preparation
- Advanced FTIR preparations
- Making tools for FTIR preparation
Day 4
- Cutting and sectioning samples
- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) preparation
- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) preparation discussion
- Case examples combining all discussed techniques
- Student projects