Industrial Science

AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy) is possibly the most versatile and powerful type of microscopy technology available for studying samples at the nanoscale. It is versatile because a budget atomic force microscope can not only image in three-dimensional topography, but it also provides various types of surface measurements to the needs of engineers and scientists. It is powerful because an AFM can easily generate images at atomic resolution with angstrom scale resolution height information, with minimum sample preparation.  AFM Principle - Surface Sensing An AFM uses a cantilever with a very sharp tip to scan over a sample surface. As the tip approaches the surface, the close-range, attractive force between the surface and the tip causes the cantilever to deflect towards the surface. However, as the cantilever is brought even closer to the surface, such that the tip makes contact with it, increasingly repulsive force takes over and causes the cantilever to deflect away from the surfac...

Electrical feedthroughs are components which enable the transfer of electrical power into or out of a hermetic chamber. Electrical feedthroughs consist of metal-ceramic-joints whereas the ceramic serves as an electrical insulator between the conductor and the connection flange. In addition to providing leak-tightness in high and ultra-high vacuum, many feedthroughs have to be resistant to high or cryogenic temperatures, high pressure and aggressive chemicals. Coaxial Feedthroughs Coaxial feedthroughs consist of two concentric conductor paths which are electrically isolated from each other by an alumina or glass-ceramic insulator in between. The inner pin-shaped conductor serves as current-carrying contact and is surrounded by a tubular outside conductor, which is usually at ground potential ("grounded shield"). The outer conductor shields the inner conductor from electromagnetic interference effects coming from outside. Coaxial feedthroughs can be used universally and are pa...

If you’re deciding on what type of heating you want for your home, keep reading to find out why home heating oil Shropshire is the best option for you. When reworking the heating system in your home, or simply planning out a newly-built home, weighing the pros and cons of different heating options can be tough. It used to be simple, you could throw some wood in the fireplace and be good to go. Now we are bombarded with hundreds of brands, systems, and pieces of information that tell us one is better than the other. For a number of reasons that we’ll go over, we advocate that oil is the best home heating fuel option. That isn’t to say that there are pros and cons to the others, because there certainly are. This article will go over some of the fine details in home heating options to help you choose the best one for your home. Most Common Home Heating Options While there are lots of heating options to choose from, we’re going to cover the ones that you’re most likely to consider. The Bo...