Olympus OLS3100 - Manual (Page 12)

Full range of measurement/analysis functions to meet virtually
Laser confocal 3D image Laser confocal DIC image
Laser confocal 3D image Particle analysis
Spherocrystal of polyamide resin
Foam (fluoro rubber)
The image shown below is a three-dimensional image of a spherocrystal of an injection molded polyamide resin (PA66) product
observed using the N-ARC method. Such a spiral-shaped higher-order structure is observed in the spherocrystal growth process
after injection molding, although it is of rare occurrence. LEXT with the DIC capability can capture a minute level difference of
several nanometers as a clear 3D image, as shown in the image to the left.
Foam made by being injected with tiny air bubbles has outstanding properties—they are heat-insulating, flexible and shock-
absorbing. Therefore, such foam is widely used as the material of wet suits, as packing and weather strips, and as the material to
make many other products. The size of air bubbles and how uniformly the air bubbles are distributed have a great influence on the
merchantability of a foam product. The image on the left is a 3D image of a cross section cut through a piece of fluoro rubber
foam in a cooled condition. By processing this image, data on the volume and area of this foam can be obtained. This type of data
can be provided so that the user can use the data to identify defects in foam products, to improve production conditions, and for
other purposes.
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