SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) week 8
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| Figure 1. PVC 3 under SEM |
This week the research team finally got to see the microplastics in a scanning electron microscope. Even though I don’t know much details on how the SEM works, I know it uses beams of electrons to produce the image (figure 1). The type of plastic the research team put under the electron microscope was the PVC 3 just because of its hardened nature. As shown in figure one, every detail of the PVC plastic is observed.
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| Figure 2. LPDE/SPI 4, PVC/SPI 3 on a hot-plate stirrer |
Enough about the SEM. The team also had a chance to evaporate the remaining 100% isopropanol from the remaining plastics (LPDE/SPI 4, PVC/SPI 3) left under the fume hood (more information in week 7 of my blog). Evaporating the 100% isopropanol will take time, so we came up with an idea to heat the glass on a hot-plate stirrer (figure 2), which made our “Evaporating” job very easy.
Oh wow!!!!!! The Electron Microscope is so amazing! It turned this PVC into and art piece for sure!!!!!!! I am wondering if you can show me the basics of how to use the Electron Microscope. I remember hearing about this type of microscope in chemistry class and biology class. It is exciting to see an image of a material under the Electron Microscope!!!
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