A few FE-SEM pictures for you guys!

Fresh Mg-Si

This and the following few images were taken with an FE-SEM, a full emission scanning electron miscroscope. Takes super tiny pictures! I'm lucky enough to work with it for my work in a lab, as well as other cool instruments. Under the image, there is a Mag=90x, which means it's 90x magnification. It only gets bigger from there! This is some fresh Mg-Si, which was used as a baseline to look at some contaminated Mg-Si (further on in the pictures).

Closeup of Mg-Si (1)

Here's a 500x closeup look at what those 'big' chunks look from above!

Closeup of Mg-Si (2)

More closeups, also at 500x! Both those big chunks and the small formations on them are primarily made of pure silicon--we'll see a slightly different story with the later contaminated Mg-Si.

Even more close up with Mg-Si

Here's a 5000x closeup of the sample from above, looks almost fluffy!

Contaminated Mg-Si Overview

At 90x, this shows a fantastic contrast between the fresh Mg-Si and this now contaminated batch (it was used in a run). The color also goes from a black, to a brownish. It can instantly be told apart, even from the naked eye, as the crystals are much smaller.

Contaminated Mg-Si Closeup

All of the formations here are primarily Si at 500x, but with a little oxidation thrown in. Using spot and line scans on the FE-SEM, I can tell the composition--and these have a good chunk of oxygen thrown in with silicon. Even that hairlike formation!

Super Closeup of Contaminated Mg-Si

At 15000x, this is in real close--and here you see the massive difference between the fresh and contaminated Mg-Si! While mainly only physical changes, the chemistry has changed a tad bit. Further testing will reveal even more.

Cat-ish tax!

I found this on another sample (a piece of Fe, iron, that was corroded via an experiment), and found its shape all too funny. Kinda reminiscent of a cat-alien thing.

Just wanted to share with you guys some of what I get to do--and it's a ton of fun! If desired, I have more I can post that look pretty fun as well. Ask any questions you have!