Hi Bev

We work with a Philips ESEM and I am quite happy that I don't have to coat my specimen when I look at nonconductive surfaces. In ESEM mode you loose some resolution but working up to 30k wasn't a challenge  so far and anyway, whenever I will need high resolution I can still coat my specimen with gold an run the ESEM with high vac.
Regarding the EDX you've got to know what you're interested in. We have a detector with a Be- window. However EMPA also has a WDX for low energy elements. In the beginning we had some problems running the software of the ESEM but now the machine runs perfect.

Have a great day


Guenter

Guenter Grossmann
Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Testing and Research EMPA
Centre for Reliability
8600 Duebendorf
Switzerland

Phone: xx41 1 823 4279
Fax :      xx41 1823 4054
mail:     [log in to unmask]

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