MICROSCOPY: POLYMER CHARACTERIZATION SERVICE OF THE UPV/EHU

Transmission electron microscopy

200kV transmission electron microscopy and high resolution TECNAI G2 20 TWIN. Equipped with LaB6 filament, digital image system and ±70° tilt. Includes:

• STEM unit with light field/dark field detector.
• X-ray microanalysis unit (EDX), made by EDAX.
• Low dosis exposure technique.
• Cryomicroscopy. Single-tilt cooling sample holder (±70°)(Gatan 626 DH model) with temperature control up to liquid nitrogen (Gatan 900 model).
• Beryllium double-tilt sample holder.
• Single-tilt sample holder.
• Ultramicrotome used to cut hard polymeric materials with a Tg over ambient temperature.
• Cryo-chamber that is adjusted to the ultramicrotome to obtain low temperature cutting, indicated for soft
• Tg materials under ambient temperature.
• Vitrobot Mark IV to prepare samples in solution to be measured by cryomiscroscopy.

Preparation of samples

The unit is equipped with the following sample preparation equipment for polymer material microscopy:

• LEICA EM UC6 ultramicrotome with which cuts are obtained for hard polymer materials with a Tg higher than room temperature.
• Cryo camera (LEICA EM FC6) which is adjusted to the ultramicrotome in order to obtain low temperature cuts, indicated for soft materials with a Tg lower than room temperature.
• Vitrobot Mark IV (FEI Company) for the preparation of samples in solution for their subsequent measurement by cryomicroscopy.