Integrated Light Microscopy and Electron Microscopy

RRGGBB is boring.

But CCMMYYKK spells FUN!

CCyan yan MMagenta agenta YYellow ellow BlacBlacKK

Plain old BB/WW BSE image, (OPC 24 hours).

Prettier when inverted and assigned to YYKK.

But still kind of boring.

Maybe optical microscopy can help!

Transmitted light.

Crossed-polars.

Epifluorescent mode.

Let’s try transmitted light first.

Take the RR-channel.

Return to the YYKK-BSE image.

Assign transmitted light to CC.

Look at all those sky-blue opaque interstitials!

Now it’s crossed-polars’ turn.

Take the BB-channel.

Invert it.

Return to the CC–transmitted, YYKK–BSE image.

Assign crossed-polars to MM.

CCMMYYK!K!

Look at all those rosy birefringent portlandites!

From boring old BB/WW BSE…

…to optically-enhanced CCMMYYKK BSE!

In just seven easy steps!

Almost like traditional Chinese water-color!

Kind of a stretch, but at least water-coloresque!

OPC, 24 hours

OPC, 96 hours

OPC, 960 hours

OPC, 24 hours

OPC, 96 hours

OPC, 960 hours

OPC & fly ash, 24 hours

OPC & fly ash, 96 hours

OPC & fly ash, 960 hours

OPC & fly ash, 24 hours

OPC & fly ash, 96 hours

OPC & fly ash, 960 hours

OPC & limestone dust, 24 hours

OPC & limestone dust, 96 hours

OPC & limestone dust, 960 hours

OPC & limestone dust, 24 hours

OPC & limestone dust, 96 hours

OPC & limestone dust, 960 hours

Can I still record optical images after I’ve carbon coated?

Sure, as long as the carbon coating hasn’t cracked up.

Just increase the shutter speed, because everything gets darker.

Transmitted light, pre-coating, 1/10,000 shutter.

Transmitted light, post-coating, 1/4000 shutter.

Crossed-polars, pre-coating, 1/1000 shutter.

Crossed-polars, post-coating, 1/500 shutter.

Epifluorescent mode, pre-coating, 1/60 shutter.

Epifluorescent mode, post-coating, 1/4 shutter.

Just don’t expect to see aluminate vs. ferrite under reflected light.

Because all you’ll see is carbon!

It’s always smart to take your optical pictures first.

Besides, if you first locate your features optically, you won’t waste time later searching for features on

the SEM!