Basic Material Characterization

Prepared by J.P Aseniero

 Chemical and structural and optical
Characterization technique of material

X- ray diffraction (XRD) Characterization

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
Scanning Electron Microscope Energy
Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX)
Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)
Electrical Characterization
Ultraviolet/Visible Absorption spectroscopy
 SEM EDX
Utilized for high magnification imaging of
almost all material
With EDX possible determination of all
elements present different parts of the sample
Use to investigate fiber structure in wood,
fracture in metals, defects in plastics, glass
and rubber production
 SEM capability?
The smallest detail that can be seen in SEM
image is 4-5 nm.

SEM
Surface morphology result

SEM image showing individual GaAS nanowires

 Other application

Investigating
defects in Glass

Glass sometimes get problems

with defects in the glass batch,
like stone or cords.

SEM image of glass sample with un-melted stone

 Biological sample

Provided that
the sample is dry
enough

SEM image of beetle Leg

EDX for elemental analysis

Another way to use

SEM/EDX is to make
a quantitative chemical
analysis of an unknown
material.
 X- ray diffraction (XRD)
Characterization
Structural analysis of material
To know if it is amorphous or highly crystalline
material
determining the dominant plane in the material
(ex. For thin film)
 XRD pattern for amorphous silica, peak at
theta = 22 shows disordered cristobalite structure
 Fourier Transform Infrared
Spectroscopy
It can identify unknown materials
It can determine the quality or consistency of
a sample
It can determine the amount of components
in a mixture
 absorption at 3447
cm1 corresponds to
the Si-OH and stretching
vibration absorption of
the O-H bond of
physically adsorbed
water and 1639 cm1
is the bending vibration
absorption of physically
adsorbed water.

FTIR Spectra of Crystalline silica

 Finger printing

Finger printing refer to the region 400 1500 cm-1

 Thermogravimetric Analysis
measures the amount and rate of change in the
weight of a material as a function of temperature
or time in a controlled atmosphere.
Measurements are used primarily to determine
the composition of materials and to predict their
thermal stability at temperatures up to 1000C.
can characterize materials that exhibit weight loss
or gain due to decomposition, oxidation, or
dehydration.
 What TGA Can Tell You
Composition of Multicomponent Systems
Thermal Stability of Materials
Oxidative Stability of Materials
Estimated Lifetime of a Product
Decomposition Kinetics of Materials
The Effect of Reactive or Corrosive Atmospheres
on Materials
Moisture and Volatiles Content of Materials
For optimum results, use a marble table
Sample TGA result
 Electrical Characterization
Electrical properties of the sample
What would happen to the electrical properties of
the sample if it is exposed to different mineral or
radiation?
Useful to determine the samples conductivity
range
Electrical Characterization

IV characteristic when it is exposed to UV and Co60