ultra Diamond Knives
DiATOME ultra knives and their applications
- Highest quality diamonds and optimal crystal orientation guarantee perfect ultrathin sections and a durable cutting edge
- Section pick-up is facilitated as the boat is horizontal allowing the water to completely fill the boat all the way round
- A hydrophilic surface makes it easy to wet the cutting edge, even with low water level
| Knife type | Knife angle | Size [mm] |
Thickness range [nm] |
Boat type | Code (new knife)* |
Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ultra 35° | 35° | 1.5mm 2.0mm 2.5mm 3.0mm 3.5mm 4.0mm |
30–200 | Standard boat | 15-UL 20-UL 25-UL 30-UL 35-UL 40-UL |
|
| ultra semi | 35° | 3.0mm | 50–500 | Standard boat | 30-S |
|
| ultra AFM | 35° | 2.0mm 3.0mm |
15–100 | Small boat | 20-AFM-UDL 30-AFM-UDL |
|
| ultra 35° Jumbo | 35° | 2.0mm 3.0mm |
50–200 | Jumbo boat | 20-ULJ 30-ULJ |
|
| ultra Maxi | 35° | 4.0mm | 30–200 | Large boat | 40-UL Maxi |
|
| ultra sonic (with control unit) ultra sonic (knife only) |
35° |
3.0mm |
15–100 | Special boat | 30-ULTSON 40-ULTSON 30-ULTSONK 40-ULTSONK |
|
| ultra sonic Maxi (with control unit) ultra sonic Maxi (knife only) |
35° | 3.0mm 4.0mm 3.0mm 4.0mm |
30–150 | Special boat | 30-ULTSONM 30-ULTSONMK 40-ULTSONM 40-ULTSONMK |
|
| ultra ats | 35° | 3.0mm | 30–200 | Special boat | 30-UL-ATS |
|
| ultra 45° | 45° | 1.5mm 2.0mm 2.5mm 3.0mm 3.5mm 4.0mm 8.0mm |
30–200 | Standard boat | 15-UL 20-UL 25-UL 30-UL 35-UL 40-UL 80-UL |
|
| ultra 45° Jumbo | 45° | 2.0mm 3.0mm |
50–200 | Jumbo boat | 20-ULJ 30-ULJ |
|
* Product Codes shown are for new knives.
To order a resharpened knife, add “R” to the Product Code that corresponds to your knife.
Example: Product Code 15-ULR = Resharpened ultra 35˚ 1.5mm Knife.
ultra 35˚, 45˚, and ultra semi can be exchanged. To order an exchanged knife, add “E” to the Product Code.
Example: Product Code 15-ULE = Exchange of an ultra 35˚ 1.5mm Knife.
ultra 35°
In 1989 considerably reduced compression, smoother section surfaces and improved structural preservation thanks to the use of our ultra 35° knives was demonstrated (J. C. Jésior, Scanning Microscopy Supplement 3, pp. 17 – 153, 1998).
In the meantime, a large number of researchers have recognized the advantages of 35° knives, in particular for sectioning biological specimens of all kind, non-homogenous specimens, non-decalcified bone, dental material, etc. The ultra 35° knives are perfect for sectioning relatively soft materials research specimens including metals and polymers, as well as mixed specimens such as polymers filled with nanoparticles, brittle materials such as catalysts, crystals, semiconductors, etc (G. Mahon et al., Microscopy Research and Technique, Vol. 31, pp. 267 – 274, 1995, S. R. Glanvill, Microscopy Research and Technique, Vol. 31, pp. 275 – 284, 1995, P. Swab et al., Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. Vol. 115, pp. 229 – 234, 1989, P. Schubert-Bischoff et al., Microscopy and Microanalysis, proceedings, page 359, 1997).
The ultra 35° knife has demonstrated its usefulness as a standard knife for the majority of applications in both biological and materials research.
ultra sonic
- Thinner sections
- No compression
- Best structure preservation
With correct setting of frequency and amplitude the sections become as long as the height of the sample. The patented ultra sonic knife allows the cutting of ultrathin sections free of compression (D. Studer et al., Journal of Microscopy, Vol. 197, pp. 94 – 100, 2000).
We have tested the ultra sonic knife with the following samples:
- Biological samples in Epon, Araldite, EM Bed, etc.
- Biological samples in acrylic resins Lowicryl, LR White).
- Rigid polymers such as PS, PMMA, ABS, HIPS, modified PP, blends of various kinds.
Polycarbonate modified with rubber Jens Sicking, Bayer Technology Services, Leverkusen.
ultra sonic Maxi
The ultra sonic Maxi is a new wider ultra sonic knife specifically for serial sectioning in biological applications. The knife comes in 3.0mm and 4.0mm sizes with 35° angle.
- Ultrathin sections without compression
- All embedding resins (Epoxies and Acrylates)
- The same control unit as for the ultra sonic usable
- Automatic setting of the resonance frequency
- Knife angle 35°
- Boat (inside 17 x 25 mm) made from titanium
- Easy wetting of the cutting edge
ultra ats
The ultra ats Diamond knife is perfect for placing sections on Si wafers to view under the SEM. The knife comes in 3.0mm size with 35° angle. Please see our Technical Data Sheet for an illustration showing the technique of placing sections on a wafer.
ultra AFM
Our ultra AFM knives are of the highest quality to ensure the increased quality requirements of AFM investigation. They produce extremely smooth sample surfaces and guarantee the best possible structure preservation.
In order to achieve the best results for AFM investigation, only the highest quality diamond knives should be used (P. H. Vallotton et al., J. Biomater. Sci. Polymer Edn., Vol. 6, No. 7, pp. 609 – 620, 1994. N. Matzko et al., Journal of Structural Biology 146, pp. 334 – 343, 2004).
ultra 45°
Acknowledged as the appropriate knife angle for routine sectioning of both biological and materials research specimens, it represents a balanced compromise between section quality and durability.
For the sectioning of a number of hard materials such as ceramics, semiconductors, oxides etc, with the use of the ultra 45° knife a longer service time may be expected. Kindly contact us and make use of our long years experience in all ultramicrotomy applications.
ultra 45° Jumbo
The ultra diamond knife is now available in Jumbo with 35° and 45° angles and in 2.0mm and 3.0mm sizes.
These knives are well suited for serial sectioning for 3D reconstructions and STEM.
