Proceedings Article | 22 May 2009
KEYWORDS: Epoxies, Tissues, Microfluidics, Electron microscopy, Oxides, Microscopy, Polymerization, Cell biology, Biology, Health sciences
This work examined the Flow Rate, Average Flow Rate, Volume Flow Rate, and Viscosity of Epon 812,
Dodecynyl Succinic Anhydride (DDSA), Nadic Methyl Anhydride (NMA), and 2,4,6-
Tri(dimethylaminomethyl)phenol (DMP-30), the components traditionally offered in "kit" form for
preparing epoxy embedding media utilized in biological electron microscopy. Other components not used
in kit formulas, including Nonenyl Succinic Anhydride (NSA), the catalysts Benzyldimethylamine
(BDMA) and Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), and several Epon 812-like epoxy resins (Embed 812, Pelco
Medcast, LX 112, Polybed 812, Scipoxy 812, Eponate 12) also were similarly tested and compared with
regard to physical and handling character to the kit ingredients. NSA, BDMA, and DMAE were
significantly less viscous than the DDSA and DMP-30 counterparts from the kit formula. Embedding
media were prepared utilizing Embed 812 and LX 112 in combination with different anhydrides and
catalysts. Substituting less viscous NSA (in place of DDSA) and BDMA (in place of DMP-30) produced
embedding media that were appreciably more fluid and less viscous. A "novel" mix of Embed
812/NSA/NMA/BDMA, for example, possessed a viscosity of 22.5 centipoises (cP) 60 minutes after
initial mixing, as compared to a viscosity of 30.0 cP when the media was catalyzed with the more
traditional DMP-30 catalyst. All novel combinations not using the original kit ingredients showed
improvement in flow rate and fluidity, some more than others. This information suggests that
microscopists are not bound to kit formulas, as they easily can prepare embedding media with specific
characteristics to suit specific needs simply by altering the basic components that go into the makeup of
the embedding medium.
