Preparation and Uses of Silica Replicas in Electron Microscopy

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Abstract
A detailed description of the preparation of silica replicas and substrates and their many and varied uses is presented with photographs and electron micrographs. A method of preparing silica replicas of specimens which cannot be subjected to the temperatures and pressures of the ordinary technique is described. It consists of applying a polystyrene lacquer to the specimen surface in place of the conventional molding. The question of ``up and down'' in stereo pictures of silica replicas is definitely settled by adding a metal oxide smoke (MgO) to the polystyrene replica before the silica evaporation. A successful powder dispersing technique consists of dispersing the powder in an ethyl cellulose lacquer and depositing upon a silica substrate. Several other techniques are also included.