Cryo-ultramicrotome

FIGURE 20.9 Phase images of cryo-ultramicrotomed surfaces of PU samples with different content of soft blocks 70% (a-b), 50% (c-d). 

FIGURE 20.10 (a,b) Phase images of cryo-ultramicrotomed surfaces of triblock copolymer styrene and ethylene-butylene (SEES) samples of neat material and loaded with oil (40 wt%), respectively. (c,d) Phase images of film of triblock copolymer poly(methyl methacrylate-polyisobutylene-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA-PIB-PMMA) immediately after spin-casting and after 3 h annealing at 100°C, respectively. Inserts in the top left and right comers of the images show power spectra with the value stmctural parameter of microphase separation. 

FIGURE 20.14 (a) Height image of a cluster of carbon black (CB) particles. The sample was prepared by pressing the particles into a pellet, (b) Optical micrograph of a cryo-ultramicrotome cut of a mbbery composite loaded with silica, (c, d) Phase images of a nanocomposite of polyurethane (PU) loaded with silica and a mbber blend based on natural mbber (NR) and styrene-butadiene copolymer (SBR) loaded with siUca, respectively. The samples were prepared with a cryo-ultramicrotome. 

Figure 3.16. STEM image performed in SEM on cryo-ultramicrotomed sections of P(S-ABu)/MWCNT nanocomposites films in annular dark-field conditions at 30 kV the contrast between the fillers and the matrix is important. Scale bar 500 nm.

A second approach to postembedding electron microscopic immunocytochemistry is the use of special aqueous resins, while these resins are still hydrophobic, they tolerate some aqueous material in the tissue. Examples of these resins are LR White or Lowicryl K4M. Another approach with aqueous embedding is to freeze tissue in buffer very rapidly, and to section with a cryo-ultramicrotome. Cryo-ultramicrotomy is a technique requiring considerable training and cannot be used by the novice. 

Figure 17.5 AFM phase images of different magnifications obtained by scanning of cryo-ultramicrotomed surface of the HDPE/EOC (50/50) blend.

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