A large group of samples require some sort of pretreatment or sample preparation before they can be loaded into a SEM for imaging or analysis.
For example, consider the multistep sample preparation of cutting, embedding and polishing metal samples.
At this site, you will find sample preparation techniques that: ✓ Prevent sample loading by gold and platinum sputter coating ✓ Allow to obtain a perfect dispersion of particles from which size and shape distributions can be determined ✓ Create the perfect surface properties of a sample required for SEM imaging and analysis by ion milling.