Conditioning chamber for metallurgical surface science

Abstract

The present invention provides a conditioning chamber device for metallurgical samples, adapted to be attached to an instrument having an examination chamber operable in an ultra high vacuum condition, and to be brought to an ultra high vacuum condition while attached to the instrument; and comprises (i) at least one vacuum pump means; (ii) a sample retaining means; (iii) at least one fracturing means adapted to prepare on a sample a surface suitable for metallurgical analysis; (iv) a drying means adapted for slow drying of a sample in an ultra high vacuum condition; and (v) a transporting means to transport the sample after surface preparation through a connecting means into the examination chamber.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A conditioning chamber device for metallurgical samples, adapted to be attachable to an instrument having an examination chamber operable in an ultra high vacuum condition, and to be brought to an ultra high vacuum condition while attached to the instrument; and comprises 
 (i) at least one vacuum pump means;    (ii) a sample retaining means;    (iii) at least one fracturing means adapted to prepare on a sample a surface suitable for metallurgical analysis;    (iv) a drying means adapted for slow drying of a sample in an ultra high vacuum condition; and    (v) a transporting means to transport the sample after surface preparation through a connecting means into the examination chamber.    
     
     
         2 . A conditioning chamber device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the sample retaining means and fracturing means are each adapted to accommodate samples of different sizes within a preselected range and to accommodate samples having irregular configurations.  
     
     
         3 . A conditioning chamber device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising means to accommodate samples which are in a slurry condition.  
     
     
         4 . A conditioning chamber device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the vacuum pump means comprises a rotary vane pump, a turbomolecular pump and a triode ion pump.  
     
     
         5 . A conditioning chamber device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the sample retaining means comprises at least one gripping means adapted to retain a sample supporting means in at least one preselected position.  
     
     
         6 . A conditioning chamber device as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the sample supporting means comprises a pedestal adapted to support a sample platen.  
     
     
         7 . A conditioning chamber device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fracturing means comprises a pair of chisels operable from substantially opposed directions in relation to each other.  
     
     
         8 . A conditioning chamber device as claimed in  claim 7  wherein each of the chisels has a cutting edge of tempered steel.  
     
     
         9 . A conditioning chamber device as claimed in  claim 1  or  claim 6  wherein the transporting means comprises a transporter rod attached to the sample retaining means, wherein movement of the transporter rod is regulated by an external control means.  
     
     
         10 . A conditioning chamber device as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the sample retaining means comprises a gripping means permanently attached to the transporter rod.  
     
     
         11 . A conditioning chamber device as claimed in  claim 9  or  claim 10  wherein the external control means comprises magnetic coupling.  
     
     
         12 . A method of conditioning a metallurgical sample for surface analysis by the steps of 
 (i) securing the sample by a sample retaining means within a conditioning chamber capable of being reduced to an ultra high vacuum condition, and attachable to an instrument having an examination chamber operable in an ultra high vacuum condition;    (ii) reducing the conditioning chamber to an ultra high vacuum condition by a vacuum pump means;    (iii) drying the sample;    (iv) fracturing the sample by a fracturing means to prepare a surface suitable for metallurgical analysis; and    (v) subsequently transporting the sample by a transportation means from the conditioning chamber into the examination chamber.    
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the sample retaining means comprises at least one gripping means adapted to retain a sample supporting means in at least one preselected position.  
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the vacuum pump means comprises a rotary vane pump, a turbomolecular pump and a triode ion pump.  
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the fracturing means comprises a pair of chisels operable from substantially opposed directions in relation to each other.  
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the transporting means comprises a transporter rod attached to the sample retaining means, wherein movement of the transporter rod is regulated by an external control means.  
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the sample retaining means comprises a gripping means permanently attached to the transporter rod.  
     
     
         18 . A method as claimed in  claim 16  or  claim 17 , wherein the external control means comprises magnetic coupling.