Substrates Cross Section (2)

4. The fully cured mold is now ready for sectioning. In simple terms, this involves using a grinder. There are four steps, from 1 to 4, with each step becoming progressively smoother. Step 1 is the roughest, so it's common to go up to step 1 just before reaching the desired height. For point sections, it's crucial to only section up to the exact point, so care must be taken not to remove the point while using the coarse step 1. Furthermore, as the substrate can be unevenly cut during the coarse step 1, attention should be paid to maintaining uniform height, as unevenness can make focusing difficult when observing under a microscope.

As an analogy, the roughness of step 1 is like sandpaper. Step 2 is similar to the surface of thick paper. Step 3 is as smooth as a basketball court. Progressing through these gradually smoother steps leads to step 4. Step 4 creates an extremely smooth surface using aluminum powder. First, sprinkle aluminum powder onto a plate and lightly moisten it. Then, adjust the direction of the water tap to avoid direct contact between water and the plate, and activate the machine. The aluminum powder dissolved in water significantly reduces friction on the mold's surface. If aluminum powder comes into contact with the skin, it may cause dryness, so it's advisable to wash it off immediately.

 

5. The mold that has undergone steps 1 to 4 is now placed into an ultrasonic machine. This is done to remove any aluminum liquid that may have entered the mold as well as to eliminate any other foreign particles. Run the ultrasonic machine for about 1 minute. Importantly, ensure that the sectioned surface doesn't touch the bottom during this process. In this way, after completing the sectioning, be cautious not to mar the smooth surface.

 

6. The mold after the ultrasonic treatment may contain water. Therefore, thoroughly remove the moisture from the surfaces other than the sectioned one. The sectioned surface should be wiped with a soft cloth like a lens wipe to prevent any scratching. Also, gently tapping the cloth on the surface helps completely eliminate moisture.

 

By following these steps, the sectioning process is completed.

 

In the next post, we will explore various types of sectioning and, as an extra, delve into information about the p-lab.