{"id":5637,"date":"2026-06-15T16:46:43","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T14:46:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ofg-analytik.de\/?page_id=5637"},"modified":"2026-06-15T16:46:44","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T14:46:44","slug":"microstructures-under-a-scanning-electron-microscope-sem","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ofg-analytik.de\/en\/examples\/microstructures-under-a-scanning-electron-microscope-sem\/","title":{"rendered":"Microstructures under a scanning electron microscope (SEM)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"5637\" class=\"elementor elementor-5637 elementor-5636\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-483464a elementor-section-content-top elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"483464a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9180508\" data-id=\"9180508\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e3ccdc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3e3ccdc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.22.0 - 24-06-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Application examples<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a105333 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a105333\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Microstructures under a scanning electron microscope (SEM)<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-31e42e3 elementor-section-content-top elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"31e42e3\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ee5b1ca\" data-id=\"ee5b1ca\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b62b744 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b62b744\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Transforming smooth polymer into a functional surface through etching<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a535ba6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a535ba6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.22.0 - 24-06-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>The component shape, roughness, and waviness are key factors in the <strong>surface topography<\/strong> of technical components. Surface topography has a significant influence on tribological properties, such as wear and friction, as well as haptics\u2014that is, the sensation and perception of the surface\u2014and aesthetics, which are strongly influenced by gloss and color.<br \/>For plastic components, surface properties\u2014specifically surface topography\u2014play a crucial role in adhesion and coating processes. For example, in the automotive and electronics industries, plastic surfaces are intentionally roughened to improve adhesion in adhesive bonds. Surface topography is also important in painting and coating processes to ensure the adhesion of the coating system as well as the flow and appearance of the coating.<br \/>The etching process is an established chemical method for modifying surfaces, in which surfaces are specifically altered through the use of etching solutions. The objectives range from creating a roughened surface to generating porosity to the selective attack of individual areas (molecules).<br \/>Translated with DeepL.com (free version)    <br \/>Surface etching is a typical pretreatment step prior to electroplating, painting, coating, bonding, and printing on surfaces. Not all plastics are suitable for this process. In practice, ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer), PC\/ABS (polycarbonate-ABS copolymer), or PA (polyamide) are commonly used.  <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-399d24b elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"399d24b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.22.0 - 24-06-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ofg-analytik.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/REM-Bilder-Mikrostrukturen-1024x768.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5644\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ofg-analytik.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/REM-Bilder-Mikrostrukturen-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.ofg-analytik.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/REM-Bilder-Mikrostrukturen-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/www.ofg-analytik.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/REM-Bilder-Mikrostrukturen-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/www.ofg-analytik.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/REM-Bilder-Mikrostrukturen-1536x1152.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.ofg-analytik.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/REM-Bilder-Mikrostrukturen-2048x1536.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">REM images of surface topography using etched PC\/ABS as an example (at various magnifications)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2e5af7a elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2e5af7a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a669fc6\" data-id=\"a669fc6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0275bf7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0275bf7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Evaluation of the topography using scanning electron microscopy (SEM)<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8df20be elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8df20be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Appropriate analytical methods are necessary to evaluate the surface structures produced by etching. This is particularly relevant for quality assurance of etching processes, but also for research questions regarding the influence of topography on material behavior. However, microscopic methods (optical microscopy and digital microscopy) are insufficient for evaluation due to their limited resolution and depth of field in the micro- and nanometer range.  <\/p>\n<p>The <strong>scanning electron microscope (SEM)<\/strong> enables detailed imaging of such surface structures at the micro- and nanometer scales with high depth of field and resolution. Unlike light microscopy techniques, scanning electron microscopy is based on the interaction of electrons with the surface being examined. The advantage is that even the smallest topographical differences become visible.  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Please contact us<\/strong> to learn more about our work in surface analysis as well as materials and failure analysis. We would be happy to provide you with practical application examples related to these fields. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Application examples Microstructures under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) Transforming smooth polymer into a functional surface through etching The component shape, roughness, and waviness are key factors in the surface topography of technical components. Surface topography has a significant influence on tribological properties, such as wear and friction, as well as haptics\u2014that is, the sensation [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":3718,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5637","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ofg-analytik.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5637","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ofg-analytik.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ofg-analytik.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ofg-analytik.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ofg-analytik.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5637"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.ofg-analytik.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5637\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6230,"href":"https:\/\/www.ofg-analytik.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5637\/revisions\/6230"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ofg-analytik.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3718"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ofg-analytik.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5637"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}