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This is a reflected light micrograph of polished, carbon coated indium wire.
The identifying etched label, which is a feature
of our standards, is invaluable for navigating in an electron beam instrument.
Indium 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 indium phosphide.
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