Butvar B-98 as a thin support film

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Microscopy Techniques

Background:

• Electron microscopy requires high-quality support films for sample stability and imaging.
• Traditional support films may lack mechanical stability or possess undesirable intrinsic structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel resin, butvar B-98, for the preparation of electron microscopy support films.
• To provide a simple and routine procedure for fabricating these support films.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of support films using butvar B-98 resin.
• Characterization of film properties including mechanical stability and electron transparency.

Main Results:

• Support films derived from butvar B-98 resin exhibit excellent mechanical stability.
• The films demonstrate high electron transparency, crucial for high-resolution imaging.
• These films possess minimal intrinsic structure, reducing image artifacts.

Conclusions:

• Butvar B-98 resin is a suitable material for producing high-performance electron microscopy support films.
• The described procedure enables routine and reliable fabrication of these films.