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A Method For the Removal of Epoxy Resins From Tissue in Preparation For Scanning Electron Microscopy
Author(s) -
Steffens W. L.
Publication year - 1978
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.1365-2818.1978.tb00098.x
Subject(s) - epoxy , sodium methoxide , scanning electron microscope , materials science , acetone , methanol , dissolution , composite material , chemical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
SUMMARY A method for unmounting entire resin‐embedded samples for SEM observation is described. This technique is particularly useful when correlation of TEM and SEM images is desired for material that is no longer available for conventional SEM preparative procedures. Samples embedded in a variety of epoxy‐type resins were trimmed of excess resin and placed in a concentrated solution of sodium methoxide. After complete dissolution of the resin, the tissue was washed in a graded series of sodium methoxide in methanol‐benzene, transferred to acetone, critical point dried, mounted on stubs, and coated with gold‐palladium. Upon viewing in the SEM, the tissue samples showed remarkable preservation of detail at relatively high magnifications.