TENSEC

Nanotechnologies are providing innovation in many industries.   It is necessary to analyze and evaluate the use of SEMs and Optical Microscopes for the Quality Control and Research and Development for new materials such as steel, ceramics, and semiconductors.   Every year more than 2000 SEM units are sold throughout the world.  

Observations using Scanning Electron Microscopes and Optical Microscopes normally require sample preparation.   Current methods of such sample preparation start with sample polishing in order to obtain a flat surface.  A mechanical polisher is then used with a polishing powder.   Next, ion beam or chemical etching is used.   In total, traditional preparation takes about three hours or more.   There is also a risk of sample surface damage during the etching stage, which results in an unusable sample.   High-level technical know-how and many hours are needed to get a good sample surface for analysis.

HORIBA have developed an innovative sample preparation machine the “TENSEC”which uses a rapid etching technique using a glow discharge.  

The “TENSEC” sputtering technology using Ar gas reduces the preparation time to get a true sample surface to only “ten seconds” (the World’s first).   There is now no longer any need for environmentally unfriendly etching solutions.   Now with the TENSEC anyone can prepare easily samples, without any risk.