Analytical

Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is a technique used to obtain an infrared spectrum of absorption or emission of a solid, liquid or gas. When used in conjunction with microscopy, you have the potential to visualize certain substances in or on complex materials.

Ultraviolet (UV) microscopy is a type of microscopy that utilizes an ultraviolet light to generate a magnified image of the sample being analyzed. Because UV light has a shorter wavelength, samples can be viewed with greater magnification and resolution.

Raman spectroscopy, named after Indian physicist C. V. Raman, is a spectroscopic technique typically used to determine vibrational modes of molecules, although rotational and other low-frequency modes of systems may also be observed.

Polarized light microscopy is an optical microscopy technique involving polarized light. Simple procedures include illumination of the sample with polarized light. Directly transmitted light can, optionally, be blocked with a polarizer orientated at 90 degrees to the illumination.

Differential interference contrast microscopy, also known as Nomarski interference contrast or Nomarski microscopy, is an optical microscopy technique used to enhance the contrast in unstained, transparent samples.

The dispersion staining is an analytical technique used in light microscopy that takes advantage of the differences in the dispersion curve of the refractive index of an unknown material relative to a standard material with a known dispersion curve to identify or characterize that unknown material. These differences become manifest as a color when the two dispersion curves intersect for some visible wavelength. This is an optical staining technique and requires no stains or dyes to produce the color. Its primary use today is in the confirmation of the presence of asbestos in construction materials but it has many other applications.

Stereomicroscopy is necessary when stereomicroscopic vision and a magnified view of the object is desired or required. A stereomicroscope is employed first to inspect a sample for particulate materials, to document through direct observations and photomicrographs, and to assist in separation and isolation.

SEM-EDS is Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) scans a focused electron beam over the surface of a sample to create an image. The FEI standard Environmental SEM (ESEM) capability delivers the extra power to accommodate difficult to handle samples and applications.

Thermomicroscopy analyses consist of a group of techniques in which physical, optical characteristics of a substance being measured as a function of temperature or time while the sample is subjected to a predefined heating or cooling program in a specified atmosphere.

Phase-contrast microscopy is an optical microscopy technique that converts phase shifts in light passing through a transparent specimen to brightness changes in the image. Phase shifts themselves are invisible, but become visible when shown as brightness variations.

Freeze drying microscopy (FDM) is a technique for identifying critical formulation parameters and is the only method for reliably determining collapse temperatures.

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) microscopy is a thermoanalytical technique in which the difference in the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of a sample and reference is measured as a function of temperature.

Fluorescence Microscopy is a technique that uses fluorescence and phosphorescence instead of, or in addition to, scattering, reflection, and attenuation or absorption, to study the properties of organic or inorganic substances.