Specimen preparation embedding

Hugo, R.C. and Cady, S.L (2004) Preparation of geological and biological TEM specimens by embedding in sulfur. Microsc. Today, 12, 28-30. 

Causton, B. 1985. Does the embedding chemistry interact with tissue In Science of Biological Specimen Preparation for Microscopy and Microanalysis (M. Mueller, R. P. Becker, A. Boyde, and J. J. Wolosewick, eds.), pp. 209-214. SEM, Inc., AMF O Hare, IL. 

Fig. 2 Schematic of embedding and sectioning procedure used to limit relaxation of crack-tip microdeformation during specimen preparation for TEM (here for a CT specimen deformed under static loading)...

An interesting method to demonstrate the density or openness to water vapour was recently published by Vogelsang and co-workers [llj. They prepared mortar specimens with embedded steel electrodes following Tritthart and Geymeyer [12]. 

The optical microscope is used to study various fiber features, such as (1) size, (2) cross section (shape), (3) uniformity, (4) molecular orientation and (5) distribution of fillers. Specimen preparation methods include direct observation and sectioning. Fibers are embedded prior to sectioning by nucrotomy (Section 4.3) or polishing (Section 4.2) methods. Figure 5.1 contains optical... 

Cellulose nitrate and cellulose acetate (CA) were among the first asymmetric, reverse osmosis membranes to be produced [150]. Plummer et al [1511 described 13 specimen preparation methods for the observation of CA membrane structures. They pointed out the lack of contrast in epoxy embedded sections and that one of the best stains, osmium tetroxide, reacts with the... 

Each view provides a different perspective on the membrane structure while, together, they give the complete structural model. Specimen preparation for OM and TEM cross sections was by nucrotomy of embedded membrane strips using a method developed to limit structural collapse (Section 4.3.4). An optical micrograph (Fig. 5.28A) shows the membrane cast on a woven support fabric. The active surface layer (top)... 

Cellulose nitrate and cellulose acetate (CA) were among the first asymmetric, reverse osmosis membranes to be produced [121]. Plummer et al. [122] described 13 specimen preparation methods for observation of CA membrane structures. They pointed out the lack of contrast in epoxy embedded sections and that one of the best stains, osmium tetroxide, reacts with the polymer. Freeze fractured membranes were found by these authors to be of questionable value. In our experience, if care is taken, SEM study of fractured membranes can provide an informative view of the structure even though some structures collapse, and their sizes cannot be accurately determined. A method found acceptable was ultrathin sectioning of gelatin embedded wet membranes (TEM). The structure of CA membranes was shown by replication [123] and SEM [124]. 

TTHIS CHAPTER IS FOR INDIVIDUALS who have not done electron microscopy (EM) before, but it also contains some new information about specimen preparation that can benefit experienced electron microscopists. It covers the materials and methods necessary to do routine thin sections of embedded specimens however, it does not cover specialized EM techniques such as freeze-fracture, rotary shadowing, negative staining, scanning EM, and serial sectioning. Likewise, this chapter focuses mainly on embryos because a description of the fixation methods for all the various types of fly tissues would require an entire book. This chapter is divided into three main sections ... 

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