Conditioning chamber for metallurgical surface science

A conditioning chamber device for metallurgical samples, adapted to be attachable to an instrument having an examination chamber operable in an ultra high vacuum condition, and to be brought to an ultra high vacuum condition while attached to the instrument;

• the conditioning chamber comprising
• (i) vacuum pump means, provided to the conditioning chamber and comprising a rotary vane pump, a turbomolecular pump and a triode ion pump;
• (ii) a sample retaining means;
• (iii) at least one fracturing means adapted to prepare on a sample a surface suitable for metallurgical analysis;
• (iv) a drying means adapted for slow drying of a sample in an ultra high vacuum condition;
• and
• (v) a transporting means to transport the sample after surface preparation through a connecting means into the examination chamber.