This section illustrates the relative insensitivity of FIB sectioning to variations in specimen density and hardness. Here,
a relatively soft, polymeric paint layer with particle reinforcement covers a zinc galvanizing layer with partially cracked
Fe-Zn intermetallic layer resulting from a reaction with the steel substrate. Although it is often necessary to vary ion
beam parameters such as dose, pixel spacing, dwell time and raster pattern on a sample by sample basis, it is
possible to successfully section nearly all materials, regardless of porosity, density variation or friability.
|