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Surface Analysis

Surface Science and Analysis Services

At Lucideon, we specialise in surface science and analysis, offering a comprehensive range of techniques to test and characterise materials for various industries.

Our expertise in surface analysis provides crucial insights into the microscopic features of materials, helping improve product performance, reliability, and interaction.

Surface Analysis

 

What is surface science?

Surface science focuses on the study of surface properties and interactions at the atomic and molecular levels. This field is critical for understanding how materials behave in different environments, impacting factors like wettability, adhesion, biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, and tribology (the study of friction and wear). Surface science plays a vital role in numerous industries, from electronics and pharmaceuticals to coatings and manufacturing.

Why choose Lucideon for surface science and analysis?

Lucideon's state-of-the-art surface science facilities are equipped with cutting-edge technologies to provide accurate and detailed surface analysis. Our services help clients:

  • Investigate material properties throughout the product lifecycle—from raw materials to finished products
  • Identify manufacturing defects, changes in material surfaces, and degradation over time
  • Perform in-depth analysis using advanced techniques like microscopy, microanalysis, and depth profiling to study surface structures at the nano and micro scale

 

 

Applications of surface science

Our surface science services are applicable to a wide array of industries, offering solutions for:

  • Semiconductor Devices: Profiling device features and investigating surface contaminants
  • Pharmaceuticals: Characterising surface properties of drug formulations and coatings
  • Polymers: Assessing changes in surface functionality after treatments like plasma exposure
  • Adhesives and Bonding: Solving bonding issues by analysing adhesive surfaces and identifying contaminants
  • Wear and Tribology Studies: Investigating surface wear, friction, and material degradation through precise analysis of tribological surfaces

Why surface science matters

Understanding surface science can lead to significant improvements in product development and manufacturing. Whether it's ensuring better adhesion of coatings, improving corrosion resistance, or enhancing biocompatibility, our surface analysis services provide valuable insights to optimise material performance.

 

 

Advanced surface science and analysis techniques

We utilise a wide range of surface analysis techniques, including:

  • Elemental and Molecular Analysis: Mapping chemical composition and molecular structures across material surfaces, identifying contaminants, and ensuring material integrity
  • Surface Morphology Analysis: Evaluating the physical structure of surfaces to detect wear, cracks, and other surface anomalies
  • Depth Profiling: Characterising layers, dopants, impurities, and surface treatments to depths of microns, providing a detailed look at buried features and multi-layer structures
  • Surface Topography: Creating 3D maps of surfaces down to the nanometre scale, providing essential data for understanding surface wear, roughness, and coating uniformity

 

3D Visualisation of human hair following conditioner treatments

The video clip below depicts the 3D visualisation of a human hair surface, by white light interferometry, measuring the surface topography and roughness after shampoo-conditioner treatments.


 

Analytical techniques for surface analysis include:

  • XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy)
  • ToF-SIMS (time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry)
  • WLI (white light interferometry)
  • SEM/EDX (scanning electron microscopy / energy dispersive x-ray analysis)
  • 3DSEM (three dimensional scanning electron microscopy)
  • XRD (x-ray diffraction)
  • FTIR (fourier transform infrared analysis)
  • AFM (atomic force microscopy)
  • TEM (transmission electron microscopy)
  • Raman spectroscopy

White Papers

Tablets
Surface Analysis Exposes Counterfeit Medicines

Surface Analysis is assisting the pharmaceutical industry in a number of ways, including counterfeit detection

Printed Circuit Board
Surface Analysis ... Solving Problems in the PCB Industry

This white paper discusses some of the surface analysis techniques available and provides case study examples, showing where the techniques have been able to solve failure problems

Hair Follicle
Measuring the Chemical & Physical Properties of Human Hair Surfaces

The surface characterisation of hair fibres can deliver important insights into the performance of hair care products and in the development of improved product formulations

Tribology
Tribology and Testing of Orthopaedic Implants

In this white paper we review the key tribology & testing techniques available for orthopaedic implants

ToFSIMS Imaging
Chemical Imaging of Industrial and Healthcare Materials by ToFSIMS

This white paper discusses the power of ToFSIMS across a range of different industries and materials and the specific information and value provided

Case Studies

Shaving Cream
Skin Care Product Claims​​

Topographical analysis of skin

Rolls-Royce Engine
Surface Analysis and Rolls-Royce

Monitoring of the in-depth distribution of key alloying elements and trace elements using SIMS

Cleanliness Validation for JRI Orthopaedics

Surface contamination investigation carried out by Lucideon

Orthopaedic Instrument
Surface Cleanliness and Orthopaedic Instruments

Lucideon assists in identification and prevention of staining of orthopaedic instruments

Hip Joint Replacement
Additive Manufacturing and Hot Isostatic Pressing

We helped our client with discolouration issues after hot isostatic pressing

Washing Hair
Hair Care Products

Lucideon uses surface analysis to investigate hair care products