Sample Preparation and Manipulation for Microanalysis (1501V), October 15-17, 2024 Online

This three-day course will be conducted live via Zoom. For more details email registrar@mcri.org.

COURSE OUTLINE & SYLLABUS

Course schedule: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. all three days (Central Time, U.S. and Canada). There will be a one-hour break for lunch and several short breaks throughout the day.

The course will consist of live demonstration and training in a variety of techniques of small particle handling. All course material will be presented in the lectures and manual. Overview of micro-physical preparation techniques, workspace ergonomics, and important tips and “tricks of the trade” for handling small particles will be included.

There is no prerequisite for this course.

Day 1
• Setup of stereomicroscope and work area
• Introduction to tungsten needles, parking slides, and glass blocks
• Micropipettes and their uses
• Making tungsten needles, parking slides, glass blocks, and micropipettes
• Combining the use of tungsten needles and micropipettes

Day 2
• Introduction to polarized light microscopy (PLM): basic microscope setup, observations with the PLM
• Microchemistry
• Making and using mini coverslips for PLM preparation
• Solvent extractions

Day 3
• Basic and advanced FTIR preparation
• Making tools for FTIR preparation
• Cutting and sectioning samples
• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) preparation