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Re: [Killietalk] Preparing slides


*"Lorraine" <overall077 at lycos_com> wrote:*

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As part of the educational area of the fish room I am setting up a science
section. I would like to have some microscope slides prepared of eggs in
various stages of development and live foods. I have the slides with the
little well and was wondering if it were possible to make permanent slides
that will not degrade. I was wondering if you could put epoxy on the slide
to cover the egg, live food, would this keep the item without degredation
(don’t laugh I am a DIY’er).

If not what would?



Lorraine

In sunny Colorado.


I would fill the well with a good UV-curing clear monomer, Cover with a thin cover glass, and then zap it with a strong dose of UV. It takes expensive equipment that makes DIY a bit of a problem. You might need to sterilize the specimens in formaldehyde, first, to assure no decay within the egg. IDK.

Second alternative is to pot it in clear silicone circuit-board potting compound. Much like the silicone used for aquaria, there are some clear, more liquid versions available. They are usually moisture-curing, so leave off the cover glass for a few minutes, but slide it on before the material begins to set up.

Very nice is a clear acrylic monomer, if you can get any. Not usually available in stores, it is used to make paperweights, etc. with objects "floating" inside them.

There are two-part clear polyester resins for cementing lenses. Check Edmund Scientific o/e.[Epoxy is rarely if ever clear after curing.] Your local plastics supplier will have poly resins for laying up fiberglass boats that should work equally well. You need that cover glass, for they never cure if in contact with air.

HTH

Wright

--
Wright Huntley - Rt. 001 Box K36, Bishop CA 93514 - whuntley at verizon_net
                     760 872-3995

"I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents...." --James Madison

http://www.libertarianism.com/




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