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Image contrast in sections of epoxy resin‐embedded biological material: Maintenance of a proper anhydride‐epoxy ratio during tissue impregnation
Author(s) -
Mollenhauer Hilton H.,
Droleskey Robert E.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0029(19970301)36:5<417::aid-jemt11>3.0.co;2-v
Subject(s) - epoxy , contrast (vision) , composite material , materials science , chemistry , computer science , artificial intelligence
Epoxy resins are mixtures of several components formulated in exact proportions to assure proper polymerization. It is necessary that this composition be maintained throughout the tissue being infiltrated to avoid embedding artifacts. Unfortunately, the separate resin components will not penetrate the tissue at the same rate unless they all have the same viscosity and molecular size. Failure to meet these criteria will result in component separation during tissue infiltration and may result in severe embedding defects. This and several ancillary problems such as low tissue contrast, damage to diamond knives, and poor postsection staining are explored in this brief discussion. Microsc. Res. Tech. 36:417–421, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.† This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.