Engineering Faculty
Document No. 28-02
November 5, 2002
TO: The Engineering
Faculty
FROM: The
Faculty of the School of Materials Engineering
RE: New
Graduate Course, MSE 583
The faculty of the School
of Materials Engineering has
approved the following new course. This
action is now submitted to the Engineering Faculty with a recommendation for
approval.
MSE
583 Energy-Dispersive
X-ray Microanalysis Skills
Sem.
1. Class 3, lab 3, (weeks 11-15) cr. 1. (Available pass/not-
pass
only) Prerequisites: MSE 581 and consent
of instructor.
Theory of x-ray generation,
components and operation of the energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer (EDS);
limits to resolution; qualitative, semi-quantitative and fully quantitative
analysis; interpretation of results.
Laboratory sessions emphasize the practical operation of the instrument
and culminate in a test of student skills.
Reason: This class has been offered for more than 4 years under the designator
MSE 595E. It is heavily enrolled each
Fall Semester with enrollment capped at 20 students. There are waiting lists to enroll in this
course. As an essential part of the
curriculum for experimental researchers, it is appropriate to provide a regular
course number for this course.
________________________________
Alexander
H. King
Head,
School of Materials
Engineering
MSE 583
Energy-Dispersive X-ray Microanalysis Skills
E.P.
Kvam, kvam@ecn.purdue.edu, MSEE 386C, 494-4097
Course Description: An introduction to microanalysis via
energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDS) in electron microscopes. Classes will cover the theory of x-ray
generation, components and operation of the spectrometer; limits to resolution;
qualitative, semi-quantitative and fully quantitative analysis; interpretation
of results. Laboratory sessions will
familiarize the students the practical operation of the instrument, and
culminate in a test of the students’ skills.
Prerequisite: MSE 581 and
Permission of the instructor
Goals: The course
goal is for the students to become competent, research-level energy dispersive
x-ray spectroscopists. They will understand the functions of the EDS system and
how it works. They will be competent in basic operating techniques, and ready
to learn more advanced ones as needed.
Objectives:
1.Provide
an understanding of theory and fundamentals of energy dispersive x-ray
microanalysis. This includes:
Theory of
x-ray generation 2
lectures
Detection
of x-rays 4
lectures
Qualitative x-ray analysis and strategies 2 lectures
Matrix correction and
quantitative analysis 7
lectures
2.Provide
"hands-on" training on operation of a research-grade x-ray
microanalyser. This includes:
Acquisition of x-ray spectra 1
lab
Detector
energy, resolution, and efficiency calibration 1
lab
Qualitative analysis of x-ray spectra 1
lab
Semi-quantitative and quantitative analysis 1 lab
Elemental line profiling and x-ray dot mapping. 1 lab
Strategies: The course
is taught in three lectures and a weekly three-hour lab, for five weeks
followed by a certification lab.
Assessment: Student
progress is assessed by their ability to operate the spectrometer system with
increasing independence and decreasing instructor intervention, as the labs
progress. Students add to their own "user manual" throughout the
course.
Evaluation: Student evaluation
will be based on homework exercises, writing four lab reports, and the ability of
students to operate the microanalyser for qualitative and quantitative
elemental microanalysis, line profiling, and elemental mapping.
Feedback: Feedback is
provided by anonymous written evaluation by students at the conclusion of the course.
Textbook:
"Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-Ray Microanalysis", 2nd ed., J.
I. Goldstein, D. E. Newbury, P. Echlin, D. C. Joy, A. D. Romig, Jr., C. E.
Lyman, C. Fiori and E. Lifshin, (Plenum Press, 1992).
