Interdisciplinary applications of SEM

Timetable

We will schedule the classes with the group after the first organizational meeting. All classes take place in room L203 in the main building of the Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences

Module aim (aims)

The practical applications of scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectrometer will be the main focus of the course. 
We encourage students to work on their own samples, if they have any.

SEM-EDS (Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy) is an analytical technique that combines high-resolution imaging with elemental microanalysis. Its applications include:

• Natural Sciences/Geology/Geography

• Archaeology/Archaeometry

• Materials Science

• Engineering Geology.

In all fields, SEM-EDS provides data on morphology (SE/BSE imaging) and qualitative/semi-quantitative elemental composition at the microscale.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

The course is addressed to the students (foreign and Polish ones) of natural sciences (geography, geology, environmental sciences, biosciences) and other disciplines (e. g. archeology, archaeometry, material sciences).

Syllabus

Introduction to SEM-EDS and its practical application to different disciplines will be the main subject of this course. Depending on the group of students, we will work on different samples, tailored to their interests, or on their own research samples. The course may cover topics such as:

• geology and geography: analysis of mineral phases, weathering products, soil composition, and micromorphology. Essential for provenance studies, diagenesis, and environmental particle characterization.

• archaeology, archaeometry: examination of artifact composition (mortars, metals, ceramics, glass, pigments), identification of corrosion products to determine technology, provenance, and degradation processes.

• materials science: characterization of microstructure, grain boundaries, phase distribution, fracture surfaces, and identification of composites.

• engineering geology: investigation of soil/rock microstructure, cementitious materials, the morphology and composition of surfaces in geotechnical contexts.

 

Reading list

• Brandon, D., & Kaplan, W. D. (2008). Microstructural Characterization of Materials (2nd ed.).
• Delage, P., & Cui, Y. J. (2021). "Microstructure and Geotechnical Properties of Fine-Grained Soils." In Springer Series in Geomechanics and Geoengineering. Springer.
• Egerton, R. F. (2016). Physical Principles of Electron Microscopy: An Introduction to TEM, SEM, and AEM (2nd ed.).
• Goldstein, J., et al. (2018). Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-Ray Microanalysis (4th ed.).
• Goodhew, P. J., Humphreys, J., & Beanland, R. (2000). Electron Microscopy and Analysis (3rd ed.). Taylor & Francis
• Ingham, J. P. (2010). Geomaterials Under the Microscope: A Colour Guide. Manson Publishing.
• Krinsley, D. H., Pye, K., Boggs, S., & Tovey, N. K. (1998). Backscattered Electron Microscopy and Image Analysis of Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks. Cambridge University Press.
• Mantler, M., & Schreiner, M. (2000). "X-ray fluorescence spectrometry in art and archaeology." X-Ray Spectrometry, 29(1), 3-17.
• Mitchell, J. K., & Soga, K. (2005). Fundamentals of Soil Behavior (3rd ed.).
• Scrivener, K. L., & Nonat, A. (2011). "Hydration of cementitious materials, present and future." Cement and Concrete Research, 41(7), 651-665.
• Mozgawa, W., Król, M., & Dyczek, J. (2014). "Application of IR spectroscopy and SEM/EDS in the study of environmental particles." Journal of Molecular Structure, 1080, 99-105.
• Pollard, A. M., Batt, C., Stern, B., & Young, S. M. M. (2007). Analytical Chemistry in Archaeology. Cambridge University Press
• Reed, S. J. B. (2005). Electron Microprobe Analysis and Scanning Electron Microscopy in Geology (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press
• Schwarzacher, W., & Lacey, J. (2016). "Scanning Electron Microscopy." In Springer Handbook of Microscopy (pp. 229-318). Springer.
• Ščavničar, S., & Kramar, S. (2021). "Application of SEM-EDS in archaeological mortar characterization: A systematic review." Minerals, 11(9), 926.
• Vladár, A. E., & Postek, M. T. (2016). "Scanning Electron Microscopy: How SEM Works." In Metrology and Standardization for Nanotechnology (pp. 133-172). Wiley
• Welton, J.E. (1984). SEM Petrology Atlas. Amer Assn of Petroleum Geologists.
• Żelechower M., (2007). Wprowadzenie do mikroanalizy rentgenowskiej. Introduction to X-ray Microanalysis (In Polish). Wydawnictwo Politechniki Śląskiej, Gliwice.