Freeze Fracture
Freeze Fracture
Leica - ACE900
RTNN
North Carolina State University
Analytical Instrumentation Facility
- Imaging
- All Imaging
- Sample Prep
Description
"The Leica ACE900 Freeze Fracture System is used for sample preparation of biological and non-biological materials. Freeze fracturing is particularly useful for observing internal cell structures, particularly membrane proteins since fracturing of the sample frequently occurs between the lipid bilayers of the cell membrane. Details of water-covered structures may be further revealed by the process of freeze etching, which is used to sublimate ice off of the cleaved surface. The sample is then coated with platinum and carbon to create a replica, which is transferred to either a TEM or SEM for analysis.
The Leica ACE900 Freeze Fracture combines all of these functions in a single semi-automated instrument. The delivery of carbon/metal mix coatings by e-beam combined with a rotating cryo stage and flexible shadowing options provides about 1.5 nm resolution imaging capability for any TEM and SEM analysis. Freeze fracture can also be used on small samples of various soft materials such as polymer solutions and gels, wood pulp, oil-water-surfactant emulsions, lyotropic and thermotropic liquid crystals, colloidal dispersions, detergents, and even ice cream!"
The Leica ACE900 Freeze Fracture combines all of these functions in a single semi-automated instrument. The delivery of carbon/metal mix coatings by e-beam combined with a rotating cryo stage and flexible shadowing options provides about 1.5 nm resolution imaging capability for any TEM and SEM analysis. Freeze fracture can also be used on small samples of various soft materials such as polymer solutions and gels, wood pulp, oil-water-surfactant emulsions, lyotropic and thermotropic liquid crystals, colloidal dispersions, detergents, and even ice cream!"