Moisture-Matrix Interactions in Polymer Based Composite Materials

Transmission electron microscopy of metallic/intermetallic composite materials is most challenging since the microscopist typically has great difficulty preparing specimens with uniform electron thin areas in adjacent phases. The application of ion milling for thinning foils from such materials has been quite effective. Although composite specimens prepared by ion milling have yielded much microstructural information, this technique has some inherent drawbacks such as the possible generation of ion damage near sample surfaces.

Download Full-text

Transmission electron microscopy of composite materials

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100107125 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 46 ◽

pp. 1012-1015

Author(s):

K.P.D. Lagerlof

Keyword(s):

Composite Materials ◽

Physical Properties ◽

Structural Defects ◽

Structural Composites ◽

Multiphase Materials ◽

Structural Reinforcement ◽

Transmission Electron ◽

Reinforced Fiber ◽

Particulate Reinforced Composites ◽

Definition Of

Although most materials contain more than one phase, and thus are multiphase materials, the definition of composite materials is commonly used to describe those materials containing more than one phase deliberately added to obtain certain desired physical properties. Composite materials are often classified according to their application, i.e. structural composites and electronic composites, but may also be classified according to the type of compounds making up the composite, i.e. metal/ceramic, ceramic/ceramie and metal/semiconductor composites. For structural composites it is also common to refer to the type of structural reinforcement; whisker-reinforced, fiber-reinforced, or particulate reinforced composites [1-4].For all types of composite materials, it is of fundamental importance to understand the relationship between the microstructure and the observed physical properties, and it is therefore vital to properly characterize the microstructure. The interfaces separating the different phases comprising the composite are of particular interest to understand. In structural composites the interface is often the weakest part, where fracture will nucleate, and in electronic composites structural defects at or near the interface will affect the critical electronic properties.

Download Full-text

Use of F9 teratocarcinoma STEM cells to study cell-matrix interactions in the early mouse embryo

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100123416 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

pp. 602-603

Author(s):

Marc Lenburg ◽

Rulang Jiang ◽

Lengya Cheng ◽

Laura Grabel

Keyword(s):

Mouse Embryo ◽

Inner Cell Mass ◽

Cell Mass ◽

Cell Types ◽

Embryoid Bodies ◽

F9 Cells ◽

Cell Matrix ◽

Matrix Interactions ◽

Cell Matrix Interactions ◽

F9 Teratocarcinoma

We are interested in defining the cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions that help direct the differentiation of extraembryonic endoderm in the peri-implantation mouse embryo. At the blastocyst stage the mouse embryo consists of an outer layer of trophectoderm surrounding the fluid-filled blastocoel cavity and an eccentrically located inner cell mass. On the free surface of the inner cell mass, facing the blastocoel cavity, a layer of primitive endoderm forms. Primitive endoderm then generates two distinct cell types; parietal endoderm (PE) which migrates along the inner surface of the trophectoderm and secretes large amounts of basement membrane components as well as tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), and visceral endoderm (VE), a columnar epithelial layer characterized by tight junctions, microvilli, and the synthesis and secretion of α-fetoprotein. As these events occur after implantation, we have turned to the F9 teratocarcinoma system as an in vitro model for examining the differentiation of these cell types. When F9 cells are treated in monolayer with retinoic acid plus cyclic-AMP, they differentiate into PE. In contrast, when F9 cells are treated in suspension with retinoic acid, they form embryoid bodies (EBs) which consist of an outer layer of VE and an inner core of undifferentiated stem cells. In addition, we have established that when VE containing embryoid bodies are plated on a fibronectin coated substrate, PE migrates onto the matrix and this interaction is inhibited by RGDS as well as antibodies directed against the β1 integrin subunit. This transition is accompanied by a significant increase in the level of tPA in the PE cells. Thus, the outgrowth system provides a spatially appropriate model for studying the differentiation and migration of PE from a VE precursor.

Download Full-text