title: Characterization of the cutting edge of glass knives for ultramicrotomy by scanning force microscopy using cantilevers with a defined tip geometry
abstract: The geometry of glass knife edges for ultramicrotomy was studied with nanoscale resolution using scanning force microscopy (SFM) in the contact mode. The local shape of the cutting edge was estimated from single line profiles of the SFM topographic images by taking into account the exact radius of the ultrasharp silicon tip. The tip radius was estimated from secondary electron micrographs recorded at low voltage by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The radius of the investigated cutting edges was found to be in range 5-20 nm. The results obtained illustrate that the combination of SFM and high resolution FESEM provides a unique means to determine precisely the radius of glass knives.
authors.affiliation: Chimie Physique des Materiaux, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium; Institut fur Medizinische Physik und Biophysik, Westfalische Wilhelms-Universitat, D-48149 Munster, Germany.
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Matzelle
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kruse
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reichelt