One simple physical embedding technique for the polymer film to be cryoultramicrotomed

Abstract In order to study the microstructure along the thickness direction of polylactide acid/C60 (PLA/C60) composite film, the sucrose solution was frozen to embed the PLA/C60 composite film at −70 °C, and the distribution state of C60 in PLA matrix was observed successfully in the obtained ultrathin sections cryomicrotomed along the thickness direction of the embedded film in the frozen sucrose solution bulk by transmission electron microscope (TEM). Compared with the traditional chemical embedding methods of polymer film using resins such as epoxy and polyester, the newly developed method to embed the PLA/C60 composite film physically with frozen sucrose solution was simple, convenient, efficient, and health friendly.