A Methyl Methacrylate–Silica Replica Technique for Electron Microscopy

Abstract

Barnes, Burton and Scott¹ have described a modified polystyrene–silica replica technique for the study of organic surfaces ; but owing to the high temperatures (130° C.) involved in the formation of the intermediate replica, their method is unsuitable for water-containing substances. They suggest, however, that some plastics such as isobutyl-methacrylate are sufficiently thermoplastic at temperatures below 100° C. to give the necessary resolution without total drying of the specimen.