The service for the optical characterisation of materials offers advanced investigations and analyses of material surfaces and microstructures through optical microscopy techniques. The service is designed to support the evaluation of the structural, morphological and qualitative characteristics of a wide range of materials used in industrial, environmental and scientific applications. Through bright field optical microscopy, with the possibility of carrying out analyses in reflected light, detailed examinations of surface microstructures can be performed, allowing the identification and assessment of textures, inclusions, deposits, impurities and other characteristics associated with material surfaces.
The service also includes defectoscopy and evaluation activities for quality control, supporting the analysis of manufacturing processes and the inspection of material surfaces in order to identify defects and imperfections. Through real-time image acquisition and optical analyses, the service makes it possible to detect structural non-conformities and contributes to verifying the compliance of products with the required technical and quality standards. These investigations are particularly relevant to process optimisation, defect analysis and quality assurance activities in an industrial setting.
The service can also be applied to the study of artefacts and archaeological samples, allowing non-destructive or minimally invasive investigations of historical materials, surface degradation phenomena and the microstructural characteristics relevant to conservation and scientific interpretation. Optical characterisation techniques are likewise suitable for environmental studies involving the analysis of soil, vegetation, water and other natural samples, supporting investigations into contamination, composition and structural observations.
The potential beneficiaries of this service include companies and public institutions active in fields such as microtechnology, metallurgy and the iron and steel industry, semiconductor production, photovoltaic systems, environmental sciences, archaeology, food science and earth sciences. The versatility and accessibility of optical microscopy make this service suitable both for routine analyses and for specialised research and development activities.
Delivering the service requires specialised equipment and laboratory resources, including an optical microscope, glass slides for sample preparation, isopropyl alcohol for cleaning procedures, immersion oil for high-resolution observations, fixing materials and auxiliary instruments such as tweezers, scalpels and spatulas. Additional auxiliary equipment and consumables are also needed for sample preparation and handling, in order to ensure accurate and reliable analyses.