Microscopy, optical melt pressing

Just as important as the proper use of the microscope is the specimen preparation. When using transmitted-light microscopy, it is necessary to prepare thin samples, about 5-50 pm thick. This is also true even for transparent polymers because of the small depth of field of an optical microscope. If information is required about an inner part of the material, the only course of action is to cut a thin section with a microtome. Melt-pressed films can be prepared by melting the polymer and squeezing it between two glass slides to make it thin. Many of the generally known specimen preparation methods are applicable to polymers. A recent overview of all methods as a useful tool for polymers is given in [Ij. 

Ber] Sintering, hot pressing, arc melting, optical microscopy. X-ray diffiaction 1250°C, the Fe-WC-W partial system... 

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