At the right is a reflected light micrograph of polished, carbon coated lead in a 02751-AB Off-The-Shelf mount. The identifying etched label, which is a feature of our standards, is invaluable for navigating in an electron beam instrument.
Lead is extremely soft and malleable and therefore impossible to polish. It is so soft that particles of grinding and polishing grit get embedded in the surface, rendering its appearance most unappealing.
While adequate for X-ray spectral purposes, we have replaced it in the metmin standard with lead sulphide (galena).
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