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Problems in ultraviolet polymerization of embedding media for electron microscopy
Author(s) -
Rostgaard J.,
Buchmann B.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1974.tb03978.x
Subject(s) - polymerization , ultraviolet , irradiation , methacrylate , materials science , electron microscope , scanning electron microscope , monomer , microscopy , polymer chemistry , composite material , polymer , optics , optoelectronics , physics , nuclear physics
Summary A study was made of ultraviolet polymerization of methacrylate, Vestopal and Epon embedding media. By placing thermocouples in the monomeric resin during UV irradiation, it was found that the temperature of the resins was 5–10°C above the ambient temperature recorded by mercury thermometers placed adjacent to the capsules. When the resins were maintained at room temperature (22–24°C), Epon could not be polymerized with UV irradiation, but methacrylate and Vestopal polymerized within 1–2 days. By using unilateral UV irradiation directed perpendicular to thin sheets of Vestopal‐infiltrated tissue specimens, the depth of polymerization in osmium‐blackened (fixed) tissues was determined to be 0.06–0.08 mm.