All samples should be solids or pressed powders capable of withstanding pressure gradients from atmosphere to ~10-10 Torr. If the sample is a powder it will be pressed onto conductive carbon tape just prior to analysis by this laboratory. Solid samples should be round or square with a ~9 mm diameter or hypotenuse respectively and a thickness of no more than 2 mm, and these should be prepared by the customer. The customer should submit a detailed account of the probable components and an MSDS of the material.
Samples should not overly out-gas. Gentle heating of the sample may be necessary for degassing. If a base pressure of ~10-8 Torr cannot be established after 2 hr. of turbo-molecular pumping with mild heating, then the sample is not amenable to ESCA. In such a case, sample analysis charges will still apply.