TEM DIVULGES THE INNERMOST SECRETS OF YOUR RECORDING MEDIA.

As computer memory technology advances, the bit and track densities of magnetic recording media are increasing dramatically. Electron microscopy is the most effective direct imaging technique for studying the submicrometer-size constituents of a magnetic medium. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is most effective at revealing the geometric aspects of particles with good clarity and resolution at high magnifications (300,000 plus X). Areas in which TEM has been of immense help in producing high-quality recording media include determining iron oxide and alumina quality, particle dispersion, particle distribution, iron oxide orientation, and surface porosity.