Mounting Small Crystals for X-Ray Investigations

Abstract

Operative work for various purposes on individual particles and single crystal specimens of very small dimensions must frequently involve mechanical manipulation under microscopic control. Thus, metal filings and mineral particles may be oriented for the purpose of taking electron micrographs. Micromanipulative techniques enabling proper and close mounting of very small single crystal specimens, with dimensions of about 100μm or much less, in a predetermined orientation have also gained much importance with the development of micro x-ray diffraction cameras. Such small crystals may also be ground, cut, and shaped with the aid of mechanical devices under microscopic observation. For x-ray studies, it may be required, for instance, to remove excessive amounts of glass or crystalline material from the crystal to be investigated, or to obtain cylindrical crystal specimens to simplify absorption corrections. By means of suitable micromanipulations (157, 180, 184, 234) such delicate operations may be performed on the tiny specimens, which may be irreplaceable, without fear of losing or destroying them through clumsy handling.