I am trying to get SEM images at fresh surface(gained after breaking it) of fired clay brick which is similar to rock material but having less strength. What are the procedures/equipments are being used by petroleum rock analysts to get clearer images in SEM? Main problem I have is that I can not surface finish my sample mechanically(because it fills up the pores and no topology is being shown in SEM) which leads to irregular surface and may be the cause of defocused/overcharge images in SEM I guess. I tried Epoxy resin but not helping much.
My objective is (i)To quantify pore structure using SEM images and (ii) Obtaining 3D pore structure(once I get good images in SEM).Micro CT is insufficient to capture the pores due to resolution issues. I also can not prepare very thin sample for TEM analysis.
Sample prep is always "problematic". In your case it is only clearly visible so that it perhaps falsify your results. Nevertheless, if you cannot work with originally broken surfaces you have to do something. I am sure that you are not the first with this problem, i.e. in literature you will find uncountable procedures how this problem has been "solved". We usually impregnate this material by high-fluid resin and a vacuum pump. This removes the gas and improves the impregnation. Polishing is the conventional. In order to improve the images you can coat them by Au or another heavy and non-oxidizing material. If you then polish your sample again, the deeper resin is usually still coated and your sample is not. This is a bit tricky but cam work very well, even for EDS analysis. The question is of course, what do you want image and which magnification is required.
Sample prep is always "problematic". In your case it is only clearly visible so that it perhaps falsify your results. Nevertheless, if you cannot work with originally broken surfaces you have to do something. I am sure that you are not the first with this problem, i.e. in literature you will find uncountable procedures how this problem has been "solved". We usually impregnate this material by high-fluid resin and a vacuum pump. This removes the gas and improves the impregnation. Polishing is the conventional. In order to improve the images you can coat them by Au or another heavy and non-oxidizing material. If you then polish your sample again, the deeper resin is usually still coated and your sample is not. This is a bit tricky but cam work very well, even for EDS analysis. The question is of course, what do you want image and which magnification is required.
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