Surface Texture Analysis

SEM is used to detect surface modifications. SEM texture analysis will not apply to some package types; e.g., glass bodied packages, resistors, capacitors, etc. SEM evaluation will be considered destructive due to possible electron beam damage to circuitry and the use of grounding materials that can result in permanent contamination. Inspections will be on a sample basis due to the destructive assessment of the package. Sputter coating may be added to obtain high-quality images if the sample surface accumulates electrical charge without the use of sputter coating. The SEM magnification will be appropriate to document areas of interest or detect anomalies. Imaging may be attempted without sputter-coating first.