Hot-stage scanning electron microscope for high-temperaturein-situ oxidation studies

Abstract

The design of a hot stage for a Cambridge S 4 scanning electron microscope (SEM) is described. Provision is made for the entry of noncondensible reactive gases to the specimen chamber through a leak tube connected to a microvalve. Preliminary oxidation studies on copper at 850°C and$P_{O_2 }$ = 3 × 10⁻⁴ have shown exceptional promise for the continuous observation of the scalegas interface at magnifications of up to 20,000x. Growth strains resulted in fractures at the grain boundaries of the oxide scale. Growth and random nucleation of oxides are all important features which have been observed here, and clearly show the usefulness of the modified stage of the SEM for future studies of oxidation of metals and alloys.