Selected area electron diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray analysis for the identification of asbestos fibres, a comparison

Abstract Transmission electron microscope selected area electron diffraction patterns and scanning electron microscope energy dispersive X-ray micro-analysis spectra from thirteen silicate minerals are compared. This was done to determine the relative viability of the two methods specifically for differentiating asbestos from non-asbestos minerals. Six asbestos and seven non-asbestos sheet and chain silicates were studied and the results from the two electron microscope methods are presented as micrographs, electron diffraction patterns and X-ray micro-analysis elemental spectra. The results show that only the selected area electron diffraction method is reliable in differentiating the six asbestos minerals from most of the randomly selected non-asbestos minerals.