Toner (Non-conductive Specimen) SEM vs Field Emission SEM  SEI

Chemistry, Plastics / Polymer

Toner consists of particles approximately a few micrometers in size, with pigment and other additives adhering to their surfaces. It is known that these fine particles significantly affect the performance of the toner. Since toner is non-conductive, it is essential to take measures against charging, such as observing at low voltage or coating with conductive materials. When observing the toner without coating under low incident voltage using SEM (JSM-IT210), we could confirm the size of the toner particles, measuring in micrometers (µm). However, it was difficult to clearly observe the fine particles on the toner surface. In contrast, using FE-SEM (JSM-IT800) under the same conditions, we were able to clearly observe the shapes of the toner particles and also confirm the presence of fine particles on the toner surface.