Methods
Materials testing methods in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany
What common materials characterisation methods answer, what they cannot establish alone, and how many Dutch, Belgian and German facilities publish each one. Start from a method you know, a problem you have, or an area.
Methods
- X-ray photoelectron spectroscopyElemental composition and chemical state of the near-surface region, optionally with sputter depth profiling.XPS · 30 facilities
- X-ray reflectivityThin-film layer thickness, density, and interface or surface roughness from specular X-ray reflectivity.XRR · 14 facilities
- Scanning electron microscopyElectron-beam imaging of surfaces and cross-sections with detector-dependent contrast.SEM · 220 facilities
- SEM with EDXScanning electron microscopy combined with elemental point analysis or mapping.SEM-EDX · 119 facilities
- Transmission electron microscopyTransmission-electron imaging or diffraction of electron-transparent specimens.TEM · 97 facilities
- Atomic force microscopyNanoscale surface topography and roughness with probe-mode-dependent property mapping.AFM · 71 facilities
- X-ray diffractionCrystalline phase, structure, texture, and strain by X-ray diffraction.XRD · 61 facilities
- Spectroscopic ellipsometryOptical constants and thickness of suitable films through an optical model.ELLIPS · 17 facilities
- Raman spectroscopyMolecular, vibrational, phase, and stress information from Raman scattering.RAMAN · 42 facilities
- Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopyChemical-bond and molecular-group identification using infrared absorption or reflection.FTIR · 59 facilities
Problems
- Coating delamination: finding the causeHow to investigate a coating that lifts, blisters or peels: which measurements show where the failure runs and why, and what to prepare.
- Thin-film thickness: choosing a measurementEllipsometry, X-ray reflectivity or a cross-section? How film type, thickness range and stack decide the measurement, and what to prepare.
- Surface contamination: identifying what is thereWhich surface-sensitive measurements identify a residue, oxide or trace contaminant, what each cannot see, and what to prepare.
- Coating failure analysis: from symptom to causeHow to analyse a coating that cracks, discolours, corrodes or wears: compare failed and intact parts and test the likely explanations.
Areas
- Thin-film analysis in the NetherlandsMethods for thickness, density, structure and optical constants of thin films, and how many Dutch facilities publish each capability, by city.
- Surface analysis in the NetherlandsMethods for surface chemistry, contamination, topography and morphology, and how many Dutch facilities publish each capability, by city.
- Thin-film analysis in BelgiumMethods for thickness, density, structure and optical constants of thin films, and how many Belgian facilities publish each capability, by city.
- Surface analysis in BelgiumMethods for surface chemistry, contamination, topography and morphology, and how many Belgian facilities publish each capability, by city.
- Thin-film analysis in GermanyMethods for thickness, density, structure and optical constants of thin films, and how many German facilities publish each capability, by city.
- Surface analysis in GermanyMethods for surface chemistry, contamination, topography and morphology, and how many German facilities publish each capability, by city.
Counts are Dutch, Belgian and German facilities whose own public pages describe the capability, structured and labelled as leads. They are not a list of laboratories that will accept your sample.