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Cutting work in thick section cryomicrotomy
Author(s) -
Saubermann Albert J.,
Riley William D.,
Beeuwkes Reinier
Publication year - 1977
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.1365-2818.1977.tb00046.x
Subject(s) - fracture (geology) , section (typography) , materials science , work (physics) , cross section (physics) , composite material , type (biology) , specific energy , geometry , geology , mathematics , physics , thermodynamics , paleontology , quantum mechanics , advertising , business
SUMMARY The forces during cryosectioning were measured using miniature strain gauges attached to a load cell fitted to the drive arm of the Porter‐Blum MT‐2 cryomicrotome. Work was calculated and the data normalized to a standard (1 mm × 1 mm × 0·5 μm) section. Thermal energy generated was also calculated. Five parameters were studied: cutting angle, thickness, temperature, hardness, and block shape. Force patterns could be divided into three major groups thought to represent cutting (Type I), large fracture planes > 10 μm in length (Type II), and small fracture planes < 10 μm in length (Type III). Type I and Type II produced satisfactory sections. Work in cutting ranged from an average of 78·4 μJ to 568·8 μJ. Cutting angle and temperature had the greatest effect on sectioning. Heat generated would be sufficient to cause through‐section melting for 0·5 μm thick sections assuming the worst possible case, namely that all heat went into the section without loss. Presence of a Type II pattern (large fracture pattern) is thought to be presumptive evidence against thawing.