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Estimating the effect of etching agents on plastic sections.

R W Horobin, J Proctor

Journal of Microscopy

|May 1, 1982

Summary

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Epoxy embedding media are affected by etching procedures. Most etching methods, including organic solvents, remove plastic, potentially increasing section permeability for improved staining.

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Histology
Microscopy Techniques

Background:

Epoxy resins are widely used for embedding biological and material samples for microscopy.
Etching procedures are often employed to enhance contrast and reveal ultrastructure in epoxy-embedded sections.
The impact of these etching procedures on the epoxy embedding media itself is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effects of various etching procedures on epoxy embedding media.
To quantify the extent of plastic removal caused by different etching methods.
To assess the potential for increased section permeability due to etching.

Main Methods:

Two methods were used: staining of epoxy resin with Sudan Black B before and after etching, and measurement of weight change in plastic blocks after etching.

Related Experiment Videos

Tested etching procedures included halogens in acetone, alkoxides in ethanol or methanol-benzene, and performic acid.

Organic solvents alone were also evaluated as part of the etching methods.

Main Results:

Methods utilizing halogens in acetone, alkoxides, and performic acid caused significant removal of the epoxy plastic.
A notable amount of plastic was removed from the blocks by most etching methods studied.
Even organic solvents alone resulted in some plastic removal, suggesting increased permeability.

Conclusions:

Etching procedures, particularly those involving harsh chemicals, can lead to substantial degradation of epoxy embedding media.
The removal of plastic by etching may contribute to the perceived increase in stain permeability in plastic sections.
Careful selection of etching protocols is necessary to minimize damage to the epoxy resin and ensure reliable microscopic analysis.