84 Thermal Imaging of High Speed Events
The FLIR SC7000 Series of Infrared Cameras from FLIR Advanced Thermal Solutions (ATS) provide the high performance and facilities for thermal imaging of high speed events.
These high-speed, high-resolution research grade cameras provide Gigabit Ethernet, Camera Link and USB interfaces for maximum flexibility and performance. They also feature simultaneous digital and analogue outputs, and are available in multiple wavebands, detector resolutions, and lens configurations. Their fast frame rates, plus adjustable and triggered integration times, allow you to capture fast moving objects and those with rapidly changing temperatures.
High-speed IR thermography can reveal hidden features of fast-moving objects when their temperature is higher than the background. The video and data acquisition capabilities of FLIR's advanced IR cameras allow the capture of thermal images at rates exceeding 62,000 frames per second. This is equivalent to an exposure time of a few microseconds. Thus, individual video frames can provide still images of a fast moving target or thermal event, referred to as stop-motion imaging. Applications include thermal and dynamic analysis of jet engine turbine blades, supersonic projectiles, and explosions.
Whether the application calls for stop-motion or a video sequence, high-speed IR cameras can supply images of fast-moving objects with minimal blur. FLIR's advanced camera systems make this possible with analogue-to- digital (A/D) converters that provide high resolution and short integration times. The shorter the integration time, the less likely there will be blurring. When data acquisition is fast enough, it's possible to capture a sequence and play it back in slow motion.
Avoiding image blur is also tied to the superior thermal sensitivity of FLIR camera detectors. With more sensitive detectors, the data integration time can be shorter, because less energy (IR radiation) is required to record an acceptable image. This is particularly important when you need to image fast-moving, low-energy targets. So, the higher the camera's sensitivity and frame rate, the better the results.
Circle no. 255 Providing Intuitive Workflows for Applications in Metallography
The Olympus Stream Solutions enable users to easily capture and analyse any image for their niche applications quickly, precisely and in compliance with common international standards. Detailed in an educational demo video, the Grain Sizing Solutions are easy to use for beginners and experienced users alike, enabling you to accurately determine the quality of your steel. The Solutions are optional component to the Olympus Stream software, which provides users with a completely intuitive workflow interface to accurately image and measure the microstructure of any sample.
The Grain Size Intercept Solution allows steel manufacturers to measure and control grain size, following cross-sectioning, polishing or etching. The Olympus Stream software automatically calculates the grain size number (G number), while users can easily define the number of test lines for determining grain elongation. All resulting data are stored with the image for data mining. In addition, the Grain Size Planimetric Solution uses a new algorithm to extract grain boundaries, providing a guided measurement of the distribution of grain index. Both of these Solutions operate in accordance with internationally recognised industry standards, and the Chart Comparison Solution allows users to compare images with reference charts, making it ideal for in-depth evaluation and analysis.
The Olympus Stream Solutions are designed to offer additional, advanced functionality to the existing capabilities of the Olympus Stream software. By providing a workflow approach where users can simply acquire, process and analyse their images, sample quality is easily determined in line with internationally recognised guidelines and standards.
Circle no. 256
The Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry at the Université Libre de Bruxelles is focused on research into ‘small molecules’, namely, liquid crystalline semiconductors for organic electronics application.
Professor Yves Henri Geerts and his colleagues in Bruxelles have undertaken a study of single crystal thin films of terthiophene, the building block for the organic semi-conductor polythiophene, by directional crystallisation by means of a thermal gradient using the Linkam GS350 stage. The background to this work is to better understand how molecular structure and supramolecular organisation affects optoelectronic properties. These can also be affected by the method of fabrication, therefore determining a method to control deposition and crystallisation is important. As part of his research, Professor Geerts used polarised optical microscopy (POM) and X-ray diffraction to characterise the shape, size, and orientation (in and out of the plane of the substrate) of the crystals produced by the thermal gradient technique. He found temperature gradients could potentially be used to control crystal growth and these conditions induce a preferential fast growth direction perpendicular to the gradient direction. In addition it is found that nucleation and growth can be decoupled for OSC crystallising from the melt in a temperature gradient and that these conditions lead to the generation of highly textured thin films with uniaxial in-plane orientation of crystallites.
Quantitative Imaging Mode for the Most Challenging of AFM Samples
JPK Instruments announce exciting new quantitative imaging capabilities for the recently launched NanoWizard®
3 AFM system. QI™ is the new quantitative imaging mode from JPK.
It has been developed to make AFM imaging easier than ever before. With QI™, a force curve-based imaging mode, the user has the full control over the tip-sample force at every pixel of the image. There is no need for setpoint or gain adjustment while scanning. Applying JPK's ForceWatch™ technology, QI™ delivers outstanding results on challenging samples such as soft (hydrogels or biomolecules), sticky (polymers or bacteria), loosely attached samples (nanotubes or virus particles in fluid) or samples with steep edges (powders, MEMS structures). QI™ mode is particularly useful in areas that demand both high resolution and force sensitivity such as biology, polymers and surface science.
The newly developed QI™ and QI™-Advanced modes make the NanoWizard® AFM the most versatile instrument for both high-end research and routine use. Compared to other imaging modes, QI™ delivers real quantitative data. AFM moves from purely imaging to deliver quantitative measurement. To measure a real and complete force distance curve at every pixel of the image gives all information about the local tip-sample interaction with high spatial resolution.
The QI™-Advanced software package is an extension of the standard QI™ version enabling quantitative measurement of nano-scale material properties such as stiffness, adhesion, dissipation and more. Once again, the imaging data is both quantitative and has high spatial resolution.
Speaking about the new QI™ capability, head of applications and customer support, Heiko Haschke, said: "We designed this software to be straightforward for a beginner to use while also having advanced options to meet the needs of the user who likes to apply their own data processing routines. It is the fact that we are measuring complete force curves at each pixel that provides real utility for the user – easy-to- produce quantitative data."
Circle no. 257
The Linkam GS350 was chosen for this work for its ability to accurately programme temperature gradients across the sample. It has two heating elements that are perfectly aligned to ensure uniform thermal contact between the temperature-controlled surface and the sample media. The heating elements are separated by a 2.5mm gap and can be controlled to 0.1°C from -196 to 350°C allowing large, precise temperature gradients to be set up. The accompanying T95-Linksys controller and Linksys 32 software enables the precision stepper motor to control the position and the speed of sample movement between the two elements and can be used to determine speed of crystal growth and allow the crystallisation front to remain in the field of view. The stepper motor control also enables extremely fast heating or cooling by quickly transferring the sample from one element to the other.
Circle no. 258
Temperature Controlled Stage used to Crystallisation Processes in Opto- Electronic Thin Films
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INTERNATIONAL LABMATE - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012
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