Microstructure of skin cream using Cryo-planing and Cryo-FIB-SEM

Soft materials containing water or other solvents, such as home and personal care products, are not high vacuum compatible. Therefore it is difficult to expose their microstructure. ZEISS demonstrates the use of cryo-SEM and cryo-FIB-SEM techniques in exposing the microstructure of a soft material, using face cream as an example. The study was carried out using a ZEISS FIB-SEM, equipped with a Gatan cryo preparation system (Alto 2500) and the Leica cryo-ultramicrotome Ultracut UCT EM FCS.