eTraining Introduction How to Use This Module Introduction Choosing the Preparation Method Mount Fabrication Procedure Steel Etching Procedure Steel Polishing Procedure Rocks and Minerals Equipment Procedure Introduction Jet Spraying Lofting Suspension Odd Shapes - Fractures Cryo Fracture Technique Electronic Materials and Carbon Nanotubes Multiprep Polishing Procedure Handling Specimen Coating Reasons for Coating Metal Coating Procedure Carbon Coating Procedure Introduction Specimen Holders by Instrument Overview Interactive Parts Tour Operating Procedures Overview Chemicals and Materials Solution Preparation Chemical Calculations Fixation and Dehydration Mounting Safety and Disposal References Form and Function Signal Source and Detection Interactive Parts Tour Interactive Cutaway Tour Safety Procedures Operating Procedures Basic Imaging Advanced Imaging Shut Down FAQs Troubleshooting VIDEO: Specimen Loading Technique VIDEO: Start Up Technique VIDEO: Specimen Unloading Technique Form and Function 1 Form and Function 2 Chemical Analysis Interactive Parts Tour Interactive Cutaway Tour Software Tour Safety Procedures Preliminary Specimen Exchange Flashing Imaging Shut Down Backscatter Imaging Charging Specimen Types X-Ray Spectral Analysis X-Ray Mapping Why Use FESEM? Specimen Constraints General FAQs Troubleshooting X-Rays and Spectra Energy Dispersive Spectrometer Wavelength Dispersive Spectrometer Safety Procedures EDS Versus WDS Quantitative X-Ray Microanalysis Basic Science Interactive X-Ray Mapping Challenge FAQs Troubleshooting Overview Tapping Mode Laser Alignment Preliminary Alignment Operation Image Viewing/Offline Operation Shut Down System Requirements Alternative Content Contact General Lab Safety Disclaimers Usage Permissions Site Map

Cryo Fracture Technique

Researchers often wish to investigate inner surfaces of soft or hard materials. In some cases, time-consuming sectioning or polishing steps are not needed. A fast fracture method involves simply breaking the specimen into two pieces after flash freezing in liquid nitrogen (LN2). The procedure is as follows.

Click to enlarge images.

  1. Wear proper protection gear for using LN2. See Properties of LN2 in General Lab Safety under Support.
  2. Pour a small amount of LN2 into a stable, insulated vessel of sufficient size to fit your specimen and a pair of tweezers.
  3. Plunge the specimen into the LN2 while holding with tweezers or sharp nosed pliers. Keep submerged in LN2 until bubbling stops.
  4. Quickly remove the specimen, grip with another pair of pliers or tweezers, then break into two pieces.
  5. Note that very brittle materials may shatter. Protect your skin and eyes, and contain the pieces.
  6. Frost will form on the specimen in humid air, so place specimen in a vacuum chamber of some kind before placing in the SEM.

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