PerkinElmer Spotlight 400 Series, User Manual

Page: 57 / 120

Preparing Samples . 57
4. Put the top half back on the cell, lining up the red dots on the top and bottom halves.
Do not tighten the screws yet; applying uneven shear forces may damage the
diamonds.
CAUTION
One diamond can damage another.
5. Press down on the cell with your thumb to thin the sample. Replace the three screws
and tighten them finger tight.
NOTE: If the spectrum collected with the diamond anvil cell shows interference fringes,
place some KBr in the cell and collect a background spectrum through it.
Figure 18 The miniature diamond anvil cell
Pressing elastomers between windows
If your sample is elastic and you are compressing it between windows, you must apply
pressure continuously. Use the following procedure:
1. Press on the windows with a probe, flattening the sample.
2. While maintaining the pressure, apply small amounts of quick-setting nitrocellulose
cement to the edges of the salt plates.
When the cement is dry, the sample remains compressed.
The compression cell (see
Using the Compression Cell
on page 65) enables you to compress
this kind of sample.