Infrared Microscopy as a Powerful Tool for the Examination of Internal Microstructure of Nano-Powder Compact

摘要

Infrared (IR) light microscopy with liquid immersion technique was applied to examine the internal structure of granules and green compact of ZrO_2 nano-powders, whose refractive index is 2.14. Internal structure could be clearly observed despite the high refractive index by IR microscopy. This high transparency of the compact to IR light was ascribed to an increased ratio between the particle size 0.1 mu m and wavelength lambda=1.3 mu m. Granule deformation is directly observed with this method for green bodies compacted under various pressures. IR microscopy combined with the liquid immersion technique is very effective for understanding the internal structure of compacted nano-powders.