Fresenius' Journal of Fresenius J Anal Chem (1993) 346:509-515

© Springer-Verlag 1993

Beauty and fascination of morphologies of the micro- and macrocosmos* Examples from materials characterization and the Tyrolean Alps

Hugo M. Ortner 1 and Wilhelm Birzer 2

1 Fachgebiet Chemische Analytik im Fachbereich Materialwissenschaft der Technischen Hochschule Darmstadt, Hilpertstrasse 31, W-6100 Darmstadt, Germany

2 Metallwerk Plansee GmbH, A-6600 Reutte, Tirol, Austria

Received January 12, 1993

Summary. Twenty years of experience of the authors with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) led to the idea to present a collection of striking examples of micrographs of intrinsic structural beauty as a birthday present to Professor Fresenius. Harmonic structures, marvellous or scurrilous SEM micrographs of inorganic materials are followed by some examples from the living microcosmos. Sometimes, striking parallelisms to our macroscopic world can be detected, which ultimately lead to some outstanding macro- scopic morphologies of the Tyrolean Alps. This is an experi- ment which tries to encompass fascinating morphologies of the microcosmos and morphologies of the environment of the authors, the Tyrolean Alps. It should empasize the totali- tarian aspect of our existence as scientists in a specific en- vironment although one of the authors has recently moved to a less dramatic landscape.

Introduction

The fascinating world of the microcosmos was first opened up to our eyes by the invention of the light microscope and then by the development of electron microscopy [1, 2]. Today, SEM is a permanently used and indispensable tool in quality control and materials development [3, 4] also at Metallwerk Plansee where all the here presented SEM micrographs were taken. From time to time in routine mate- rials control by SEM and also in developmental work it hap- pens that one is surprised by the intrinsic structural beauty even of simple objects like metal powders or fracture sur- faces. Some striking examples will be given together with other fascinating morphologies of harmonic structures of inorganic materials. These will be followed by some examples of marvellous or scurrilous morphologies from the living microcosmos. Sometimes, striking parallelisms to our macroscopic world can be detected as will also be shown.

* Dedicated to Professor Dr. Wilhelm Fresenius on the occasion of his 80th birthday

Correspondence to: H. M. Ortner

Experimental

All SEM-pictures were obtained with a Jeol scanning elec- tron microscope JSM 35 CF or its predecessor JSM 35. Micrographs taken with the latter do not show any relevant parameters. Hence, magnification of the original photomi- crograph before size-reduction of the manuscript is given in brackets. Micrographs taken with the recent instrument dis- play the following information in the dark region below the pictures from left to right: accelerating voltage in kV, magni- fication, SEM-picture number, scale for picture in gm and date when the picture was taken.

The beauty of simple objects like metal powders

Figure 1 shows crystallites of a tungsten powder which is routinely used for the powder metallurgical production of sintered tungsten. Proper powder morphology, grain size distribution and mean average grain size are vital parameters for further processing of such powders like pressing and sin- tering [5,6]. However at this point, we just want to enjoy the beauty of these basic geometric forms.

Figure 2 essentially shows a crystallite of an osmium metal powder and it is astonishing which wealth of shapes and structures can already be detected with as simple objects as metal powders.

Figure 3 shows a coarser powder consisting of SiC-plate- lets of an interesting morphology. Such platelets were used instead of carcinogenic SiC-whiskers in experiments to rein- force an A1203-ceramic material.

Figure 4 shows an arrangement of powder grains of a dendritic copper powder and this morphology reminds of a parallelism to the macrocosmos, snow loaded trees in winter time high up in the Alps (Fig. 5).

Figure 6 is again the SEM - picture of a dendritic copper powder, although at first sight one could easily mistake it for its parallel counterpart in the macroscopic world - a snow covered fir tree in a winterly forest (Fig. 7). But the personal associations continue. Haven' t I seen something else which was morphologically quite similar? O yes, the St. Patricks cathedral in New York (Fig. 8), squeezed into a surrounding of sky scrapers and suffocating traffic.

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Fig. 1. Crystallites of a tungsten powder (magnification :x 2000). The bar below the micrograph resembles a distance of 10/~m

Fig. 4. Arrangement of powder grains of a dendritic copper powder (magnification: x 400)

Fig. 2 Crystallite of an osmium powder (magnification:x860) Fig. 5. Parallel morphology of the macrocosmos: snow loaded trees in winter time high up the Alps

Fig. 3. Coarser powder consisting of SiC-platelets (magnifica- tion : x 720)

Fig. 6. Morphology of another dendritic copper powder (magnifica- tion: x 150)

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Fig. 7. Parallel morphology of the macrocosmos 1: snow covered tree in a winterly forest

Fig. 8. Parallel morphology of the macrocosmos 2: St. Patricks cathe- dral in New York

Are these objects really simple inorganic materials?

Figure 9 again shows electrolytically grown copper dendrites and one wonders wether this is still an inorganic object viewed in the SEM or living plants in nature.

One is similar tempted to transpose the CaCO3-crystals of Fig, 10, which were grown from tap water of the Reutte- area in Tyrol, into a frost covered bush of our winterly sur- rounding macrocosmos in the same area.

Figure 11, too, shows an inorganic material at a magnifi- cation o f x 30: the morphology of needle iron ore, 7-FeO(OH) or Goethite, whereas Fig. 12 shows something

which seems morphologically related, but is something quite different: molybdenum oxide which was quickly solidified from a melt (magnification x 300).

Figure 13 is an especially interesting deposit of tungsten on a tungsten heat-shield foil o fa sintering furnace. It should be obvious from this morphology that tungsten crystallizes in the basecentered cubic form.

Albert Einstein once said: "If the viewed and experienced is formulated in the language of logic, we are performing science; if it is transmitted by forms and structures, the correlations of which are hardly traceable by our thinking but can be ventured beautiful and

Fig. 9. Electrolytically grown copper dendrites (magnification: x 780) Fig. 10. CaCO3-crystals grown on dust fibres from water of the local water supply at Reutte, Tyrol

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Fig. 1 I. Morphology of needle iron ore or Goethite at a magnification of x 30

meaningful by our intui t ion and feeling - we are performing art."

It is herwith not claimed, of course, that what is pre- sented here, is art.

Figure 14 shows the corrosion morphology on a glassy carbon tube used in electrothermal a tomic absorption spec- t rometry for a life t ime experiment .

Figure 15 is an interesting example how a simple sub- stance - calcium carbonate - can crystallize in two very dif- ferent and morphological ly nice ways.

It all depends upon the point of view ...

The series o f the three Figs. 16, 17 and 18 of a simple coiled coil o f a fine non-sag tungsten wire o f an incandescent lamp should demonst ra te how an object can yield an increasingly abstract morpho logy by simply changing the angle of view. It is hardly conceivable that any one would at first sight identify the morpho logy o f Fig. 18 as just another view of the same coiled coil as shown in Fig. 16.

Fig. 12. Morphology of a quickly solidified molybdenum oxide (mag- nification: x 300)

Fig. 14. Corrosion morphology of a glassy carbon tube used in ETAAS (on tube outside)

Fig. 13. Tungsten cubes grown by a CVD-reaction on a tungsten heat-shield foil of a sintering furnace (magnification: x 50)

Fig. 15. Calcium carbonate crystals from tap water

Fig. 16. Coiled coil of a ca. 20gm diameter tungsten wire of an incan- descent lamp

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Scanning electron micrographs related to the living micro- c o s m o s

Although the direct observat ion of living objects is unfortun- ately impossible in the vacuum of the SEM, a few examples should be given of the striking morphologies from the once living microcosmos.

Figure 19 shows the silica skeleton of a Radiolaria with very impressive inside structures. Such objects are used by SEM-operators to check the depth resolut ion of their instru- ments. Certainly you have already seen SEM-pictures of insects which always puzzle us by their grotesque wealth o f forms and the somet imes formidable details.

Figure 20 is the front view of a lady bug and at this magni- fication it does not appear as a cute little bug as it does with bare eyes.

Figure 21 shows Emil, our soldier ant at a magnificat ion o f x 60. The very details of such insects are a thrilling experi- ence of the grotesqueness and fascination of our living microcosmos.

Figure 22 finally shows the portrait of a moscito found one sunny morning in our laboratories and one wonders whether this still is a creature of our p lanet earth.

Herewith this little tour through the startling fields of microcosmos should be terminated. However , since our life does not consist merely of science, the idea was born to try to further extend these morphologica l studies to our macrocos- mos, to the world in which I used to live for twenty years, the world of the Alps o f nor thern Tyrol, in order to emphasize the totali tarian aspect o f our existence as people in a specific environment .

Fig. 17. The same coiled coil as shown in Fig. 16 but viewed from a different angle in the SEM

Macroscopic morphologies of our Alps

Sir E d m u n d Hillary, the first man on Moun t Everest, said when asked why he climbs the highest peaks of the world under most dangerous and extreme condit ions: "Because they are here." Personally I should like to add: "Because they are fascinatingly beautiful and because it is - in addi t ion to

Fig. 18. The same tungsten-coiled coil of an incandescent lamp as shown in Figs. 16 and 17 but viewed fron an unusual angle in the SEM Fig. 19. Silica skeleton of a Radiolaria (magnification: x 400)

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the physical challenge - over and over again a grand esthetic experience to climb the peaks o f our Alps at all seasons o f the year".

Figure 23 is a look up the Lech valley from an ascend to the "Lailachspitze" near Weissenbach at a late summer even- ing and Fig. 24 shows a colleague climbing up the Kogelsee- spitze in the Lechtaler Alps during a spring skiing tour.

Wa te r is an essential e lement of our Nor thern Alps - be it in solid form coming down as avalanche, beautiful and awe- some from a safe distance (Fig. 25), be it in liquid form as waterfall in many a gorge (Fig. 26) or be it in solid form again as glistening glacier-ice high up in the regions o f eternal ice (Fig. 27).

Fig. 20. Front view of a lady bug (magnification: x 30)

Fig. 21. Emil, the soldier ant, gold sputtered for charge-free imaging Fig. 23. The Lech-river and valley as seen from the ascent of the Lai- lachspitze near Weil3enbach

Fig. 24. Steep ascent of the Kogelseespitze in the Lechtaler Alps dur- Fig. 22. Portrait of a moscito (magnification: x 90) ing a skiing tour in spring time

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Fig. 25. Avalanche clown from the Kogelseespitze

Fig. 27 Glistening glacier ice near the Weigkugel

Fig. 26. Waterfall near the Memminger Htitte in the Lechtaler Alps

In the home country of the authors, Austria, borders be- tween science and art were floating at all t imes and there were and are always people, who try to convert scientific sti- mula t ions into art - or simply into i tems which might delight others a bit. Many scientists of earlier t imes tr ied to construct the pe rpe tuum mobile. An Austr ian composer , Johann StrauB, made a beautiful piece of music of it - a quick dance or "polka". Hence, if this morphologica l journey was able to pull some strings of your internal music, maybe it will s t imulate your creativity of your further scientific endeavour. And the authors also hope that this contr ibut ion can be taken as a small bir thday present for you, dear Professor Fresenius , whom we wish with all our heart health, happi- ness and the very best for the years to come!

Conclusion

F.M. Dostoyevsky once wrote in one of his famous books, "The Idiot": ..."The Beauty, only the Beauty shall save the world."

In our present world with all these nearly insurmount- able difficulties a round us we might feel that this is a bit exaggerated. However, we also know that every h u m a n being needs some beauty as necessarily as the daily bread.

I f we somet imes find beauty in our scientific world, I think, we should thankfully look at it and also enjoy it in our surrounding.

References

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2. Goldstein JI, Newbury DE, Echlin P, Joy DC, Fiori C, Lifshin E (1981) Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis Ple- num Press, New York, Lodon

3. Ortner HM, Wilhartitz P (1990) Fresenius J Anal Chem 337 : 686 4. Ortner HM, Wilhartitz P (1991) Mikrochim Acta [Wien] II, 177 5. Benesovsky F (1982) Pulvermetallurgie und Sinterwerkstoffe.

Metallwerk Plansee, Reutte 6. Schatt W (1985) Pulvermetallurgie, Sinter- und Verbundwerk-

stoffe, 2. Aufl. VEB Deutscher Verlag fiir Grundstoffindustrie, Leipzig