Press Release of April 29, 2025
For the perfect thin-section
Helmholtz Institute Freiberg develops holder for geological sample preparation
Preparators grind and polish rock surfaces very carefully for microscopic examination of minerals and rocks. This preparation is key to the identification and characterization of mineral raw materials. The Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF), an institute of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), uses polishing machines from Struers GmbH for preparation. In order to polish an ideal surface, a sample holder was developed at the HIF. The two partner institutions currently present the holder for the first time at the leading European Geosciences Exhibition EGU in Vienna. Accordingly, HIF and Struers underline their five-year cooperation.
In order to polish an ideal surface, a sample holder was developed at the HIF. The two partner institutions currently present the holder for the first time at the EGU in Vienna. (f.l.t.r.: Dr. Jonathan Engelhardt - Innovation manager at HZDR, Andreas Bartzsch - Struers, Roland Würkert - Head of the Preparation Laboratory at HIF)
Source: HZDR/HIF
Among other things, HIF deals with quantitative characterization of complex mineral and metalliferous raw materials from primary and secondary sources. Careful, multistage sample preparation is necessary for the characterization of raw materials. Specialized polishing machines polish rock samples very smoothly. So-called thin sections represent samples that are ground and polished to such an extent that they are almost transparent. Innovative methods and processes need to be developed to overcome this challenge.
Tegramin-30 polishing machine from Struers
Source: Jentzsch, Anne-Kristin
Sample preparation is carried out using machines from Struers GmbH, a global leader in the sale of preparation machines, consumables and services for sample preparation. For five years now, HIF has cooperated with Struers. HIF has access to the latest equipment, while Struers uses the optimization suggestions for the further development of its systems. "We use the Tegramin-30 polishing machine to produce thin-sections. Operating the machines revealed that none of the existing sample holders are particularly suitable for rock sections. Samples having a thickness of only 30 micrometers require a special holder. That's why we developed a specimen holder adapted to our requirements that is ideal for preparation," says Roland Würkert, Head of the Preparation Laboratory at the HIF.
Sample holder developed in-house at the HIF for the production of rock thin sections (TSH - Thin Section Holder).
Source: Jentzsch, Anne-Kristin
HIF and Struers currently present the sample holder to the public for the first time at the leading European event for geosciences. The event happens every year in Vienna and is organized and named after the European Geosciences Union (EGU). "With our joint appearance at the EGU, we want to reach a new customer segment, as the polishing machine, which is actually designed for metallic samples, can now also be used for geological samples. The HIF, with its very broad wealth of experience in the preparation of rock samples, is of great importance for the further development of our systems," Struers Managing Director Dr. Volkmar Prill underlining the cooperation.
Prof. Sebastian M. Schmidt, Scientific Director of the HZDR, sums up: "The challenges of today require strategic partnerships and the pooling of expertise. The cooperation between our center, in particular the HIF, and the Struers company shows that it is not just about solving a problem for industry. We pursue win-win strategies from which both partners benefit. This has already been successful here."
Further Information:
Roland Würkert | Department Analytics
Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology at HZDR
Phone: +49 351 260 4442 | Email: r.wuerkert@hzdr.de
Dr. Peggy Jungke | Strategic Alliance Manager
Department of Technology Transfer and Innovation at HZDR
Phone: +49 351 260 2710 | Email: p.jungke@hzdr.de
Andreas Bartzsch
Struers GmbH
Phone: +49 2154 4860 | Email: andreas.bartzsch@struers.de
Press Contact:
Anne-Kristin Jentzsch | Press Officer
Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology at HZDR
Phone: +49 351 260 4429 | Email: a.jentzsch@hzdr.de
