Polymeric replica films of specimens for electron microscopy - formed directly on the surface of specimen by plasma polymerisation of organic monomer vapours

摘要

A replica film of a specimen for electron microscopy is formed by forming a polymer film of uniform thickness directly on the surface of the specimen by plasma polymerisation of organic monomer vapours by a glow discharge method. Suitable organic monomers are e.g. ethylene, propylene, benzene, toluene, xylene, styrene, chlorobenzene, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, ferrocene, ethylbenzene, ethylene chloride, propylene oxide, methyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, 1,2-epoxybutane and 1,2-epoxyethylbenzene. Process allows uniform replica films to be deposited on substrates such as biomedical specimens. The replica films are amorphous and allow electron microscopy of much higher resolving power than is obtainable e.g. using deposited metal replica films, in which the grains affect the resolution power.