DECEMBER 19--Ulvac Technologies (Methuen, MA), a supplier of vacuum components, process equipment, and instrumentation, has introduced the MS-E1S microscope. With an integrated furnace hot stage, this microscope enables the direct observation of materials-science samples during heating and cooling experiments typically performed in semiconductor and metallurgical investigations.
The MS-E1S unit integrates a compound optical microscope with an infrared gold image furnace hot stage and a video recording and display system for the direct observation of the melting and recrystallization behavior of materials. Samples can be maintained in virtually any gas environment and pressure or vacuum levels and can be brought to high temperatures (1000°C in one minute) and cooled to room temperature quickly. Images can be recorded in NTSC video format at 100X, 200X, or 400X magnification using the CCD camera and VHS or DVD recorder. The system is straightforward in design, is easy to operate, and provides a clean and controlled sample environment with highly accurate temperature regulation, which is essential to meet R&D and QA/QC requirements for the study of advanced high temperature materials.
The MS-E1S microscope requires only 1.5 kW of electrical power and features an operating temperature range from RT to 1500°C. Samples can be solid, liquid, or powder with a choice of air, inert gas, and vacuum atmospheres.
With sales of more than $1.5 billion, Ulvac employs more than 3500 people worldwide. Ulvac-Riko a member of the Ulvac Group of companies develops and manufactures a broad range of thermal analyzers and thermophysical properties measurement systems for materials characterization. Ulvac Technologies is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ulvac Inc. of Chigasaki, Japan.
For further information, see www.ulvac.com.
