TAAB Laboratories Equipment Ltd specialises in and manufactures a wide range of chemicals and embedding resins for TEM.
TAAB Premix Kits
With increasing awareness of the safety hazards when handling potentially harmful chemicals, TAAB have developed a range of premix kits which include Araldite CY212 Resin, Spurr’s Low Viscosity Resin (TLV) a replacement for Spurr’s original recipe, Spurr resin with ERL 4221D, 812 Resin and Emix Resin. Each of these kits is available in Hard, Medium and Soft recipes.
These kits reduce considerably excessive handling of the various components and weighing of the components is eliminated. This has the added advantage of increased reproducibility of results, speed, efficiency and greater user safety.
Each kit consists of 5 sets of two components plus 5 ampoules of accelerator. One component is in a 100mL capacity bottle, the other (the less viscous) is in a 50mL capacity bottle. Simply empty the contents of the smaller bottle into the larger bottle, mix, then add the contents of one ampoule of accelerator, mix thoroughly again and approximately 100g of resin media is ready for use. No additional containers are required, and any unused resin can be stored in a refrigerator for later use or left to set in the bottle before it is discarded.
Araldite CY212 Resin
Cat. No. E028 Hard
Comprising:
5 x 52g Resin– hard
5 x 48g Hardener
5 x 2.5mL Accelerator
Cat. No. E029 Medium
Comprising:
5 x 52g Resin– medium
5 x 48g Hardener
5 x 2.5mL Accelerator
Cat. No. E030 Soft
Comprising:
5 x 52g Resin– soft
5 x 48g Hardener
5 x 2.5mL Accelerator
Spurr Resin with ERL 4221D replacing ERL 4206
Cat. No. S031/D Hard
Comprising:
5 x 35g Resin– hard
5 x 65g Hardener
5 x 1mL Accelerator
Cat. No. S032/D Medium
Comprising: 5 x 35g Resin– medium
5 x 65g Hardener
5 x 1mL Accelerator
Comprising: 5 x 35g Resin– soft
5 x 65g Hardener
5 x 1mL Accelerator
TAAB Low Viscosity Resin (TLV)
A replacement for Spurr’s original recipe
Cat. No. T261 Hard
Comprising: 5 x 35g Resin– hard
5 x 65g Hardener
5 x 2.5mL Accelerator
Cat. No. T262 Medium
Comprising: 5 x 40g Resin– medium
5 x 65g Hardener
5 x 2.5mL Accelerator
Cat. No. T263 Soft
Comprising: 5 x 45g Resin– soft
5 x 65g Hardener
5 x 2.5mL Accelerator
TAAB Emix Resin
This well known and popular resin is a low viscosity epoxy resin (0.7 to 1.1 Pa.s at 25°C) and is available in kit form only as a Premix kit. Three formulas are available, hard, medium and soft. It is ideally suited to routine diagnostic embedding for EM having been proved over many years in UK hospitals.
Cat. No. E038 Hard
Comprising: 5 x 53g Resin
5 x 47g Hardener- hard
5 x 2.5mL Accelerator
Cat. No. E037 Medium
Comprising: 5 x 53g Resin
5 x 47g Hardener- medium
5 x 2.5mL Accelerator
Cat. No. E036
Comprising: 5 x 52g Resin– soft
5 x 48g Hardener
5 x 2.5mL Accelerator
TAAB 812 Resin
Cat. No. T030 Hard
Comprising: 5 x 48g Resin
5 x 52g Hardener- hard
5 x 2.5mL Accelerator
Cat. No. T031 Medium
Comprising: 5 x 48g Resin
5 x 52g Hardener- medium
5 x 2.5mL Accelerator
Cat. No. T032
Comprising: 5 x 48g Resin
5 x 52g Hardener- soft
5 x 2.5mL Accelerator
TAAB Embedding Resin
Following the demand for more reliable sectioning of tough tissues including skin, bone and keratinized tissue, TAAB has introduced Hard-Plus into the range of premix kits. Sections show less distortion and retain integrity during subsequent staining procedures for light and electron microscopy.
Cat. No. T027 Hard
Comprising: 5 x 50g Resin
5 x 50g Hardener- hard
5 x 2.5mL Accelerator
Cat. No. T027/1 Hard-Plus
Comprising: 5 x 50g Resin
5 x 50g Hardener- hard- Plus
5 x 2.5mL Accelerator
Cat. No. T028 Medium
Comprising: 5 x 50g Resin
5 x 50g Hardener- medium
5 x 2.5mL Accelerator
Cat. No. T029
Comprising: 5 x 50g Resin
5 x 50g Hardener- soft
5 x 2.5mL Accelerator
TAAB Transmit Resin
A low viscosity epoxy resin with comparable performance to Spurr’s except that a softer block is usually produced. It has good sectioning characteristics, electron beam stability and low background ‘grain’. A good resin for LM use, easy to handle and much less toxic than Spurr’s being comparable with Araldite. An exceptional advantage is that the monomer is water miscible and can be used to dehydrate specimens where alcohol and acetone should be avoided.
Cat. No. T029
Comprising:
5 x 35g Resin
5 x 69g Hardener
5 x 2mL Accelerator
We recommend that BDMA (benzyldimethylamine) be used in place of DMP-30 (2,4,6-tri(dimethylaminomethyl)phenol) as the accelerator for epoxy systems. It has a lower viscosity and improved shelf life over DMP-30 which tends to absorb moisture and carbon dioxide. All TAAB epoxy kits have DMP-30 as standard, but for those wishing to follow these recommendations, TAAB have introduced alternative kits replacing the DMP-30 with BDMA.
Clear Casting Resin C (TAAB Cat. No. C033, C034)
An unsaturated polyester resin in styrene monomer. Ideal for clear casting of biological and medical specimens for display or, when mixed with styrene is an excellent embedding medium for undecalcified bones. Will section easily at 5µm.
Araldite CY212 Resin Kit (TAAB Cat. No. E009 and E009/1)
An epoxy resin also known as Araldite M, based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A.
The resin is mixed with the reactive anhydride hardener DDSA in equal parts. The slow curing is speeded by the use of an amine accelerator DMP 30 or BDMA. The hardness of the block is controlled by the addition of the plasticiser Dibutyl Phthalate.
This routinely used epoxy resin was first reported as an embedding resin for EM in 1956 and since that time has been the model around which other modern epoxies have been developed.
Araldite 502 Resin Kit (TAAB Cat. No. E049 and E049/1)
This epoxy resin is the American equivalent of Araldite CY212. It has a viscosity twice that of CY212 and infiltration times should be extended. Polymerisation takes place overnight so blocks can be sectioned the next day. J. Biochem. Biophy. Cytol., 9, 409 (1961)
Araldite/TAAB 812 Resin Kit (TAAB Cat. No. E202 and E202/1)
For hard blocks and high image contrast, blocks are easily sectioned. Mollenhauer Epon-Araldite formula.
Durcupan ACM Epoxy Kit (TAAB Cat. No. D036)
Embedding material based on Araldite, an aromatic polyepoxide. A colourless relatively low viscosity resin, with very low shrinkage.
Durcupan Water Soluble Kit (TAAB Cat. No. D033)
A water soluble resin for EM based on an aliphatic polyepoxide. Excellent results in the observation of enzymatic digestion processes and in histochemical studies where the use of solvents may de-activate the enzymes under study.
Gach (Glutaraldehyde/Carbohydrazide) Kit (TAAB Cat. No. G047 and G048)
A water and lipid retaining embedding polymer for EM. Excellent preservation of lipids and ultrastructure.
Hechman,C.A. et al.(1973) J.Ultrstruct.Res.42,156
HEMA (Glycol Methacrylate) Kit (TAAB Cat. No. H017)
2, Hydroxyethyl methacrylate is in monomer form, the ethylene glycol monoester of methacrylic acid. An LM resin for 1–2µm sections using the Ruddell technique. Virtually all LM stains can be used although cationic dyes such as basic fuchsin and toluidine blue tend to stain the resin matrix. Not recommended for EM.
Leduc & Holt, J Cell Biol.,26, 137 (1965)
Ruddell, Stain Technology, 42 253 (1967)
Green J. Clinical Pathology, 23, 640 (1970)
Histocryl Kit (TAAB Cat. No. H025)
An acrylic resin specially formulated for LM, it is water soluble and being hydrophilic permits the use of most routine staining techniques without the prior removal or etching of the resin.
JB4 Embedding Kit (TAAB Cat. No. J001)
A water soluble embedding medium based on glycol methacrylate. Cures at room temperature in less than two hours, and thin sections (1-2µm) are easily cut. Compared with wax JB4 preserves the ultrafine structure of tissue better. Removal of resin prior to staining is unnecessary and all aqueous histological stains may be used for staining. The use of cleaning agents such as xylene and chloroform are not needed.
LR Gold Resin Kit (TAAB Cat. No. L011/K)
An acrylic resin for the histochemist and immunocytochemist, working with fixed tissue. Cold cured in visible light (for example quartz halogen), LR Gold can infiltrate and be cured in unfixed tissue. This leaves very many fixation-sensitive systems active that can be demonstrated using standard histochemical techniques. Its’ hydrophilic nature will facilitate the passage of substrates and antibodies during reactions ensuring that precise localisations and superb morphology are available from the same section. There are further advantages over frozen sections in that blocks may be stored at ambient temperature with biochemical activity remaining for many weeks. Semi-thin and ultra-thin sections can be prepared and once stained, are permanent.
LR White Resin Kit (TAAB Cat. No. L009 Hard, L012 Medium L013 Soft)
A very low viscosity (8cps), non-toxic resin suitable for LM and EM. LR White is a polar monomer, is electron beam stable and can be heat or UV light cured. With appropriate fixation the same specimen may be used for both LM and EM techniques. Immunocytochemical methods may be used without etching or any pre-treatment. The kits are supplied as a two component resin that is stable at ambient temperatures. The catalyst should be added to the monomer a minimum of 24 hours prior to use. Once mixed it should be used within a day, or refrigerated until required.
Newman G.R. (1987) Use and abuse of LR White. Histochem. J. 19, 118
Lowicryl Resin (TAAB Cat. Nos. L008, L007, L017, L016)
Lowicryl resins are low temperature embedding media based on a highly crosslinked acrylic & methacrylate formula by Carlemalm et al.
Lowicryl K4M is a water compatible (hydrophilic) resin with moderate beam stability. Infiltration and curing can be undertaken at all temperatures down to -35°C while the Lowicryl HM20 is non-polar (hydrophobic) and can be used down to -70°C.
Lowicryl K11M and Lowicryl HM23 have properties similar to Lowicryl K4M and Lowicryl HM20 but allow for use at 20°C lower temperatures (K4M -50°C & HM23 -80°C). All these resins are photopolymerised by indirect long wavelength (360nm) ultraviolet light. Chemical polymerisation is also possible at 60°C. All Lowicryl media exhibit low viscosity at temperatures as low as 35°C and both the Lowicryl K4M and Lowicryl K11M may be polymerised with up to 5% (by weight) water in the block. Secondly, Lowicryl K4M and Lowicryl K11M are particularly useful for immunolabelling of sections using specific antisera, lectins and colloidal gold particles.
Methacrylate Embedding Kit (TAAB Cat. No. M017)
A low viscosity embedding medium, the final hardness of which is determined by the ratio of the two methacrylates. It produces blocks that are very easy to section. The resin can be removed with acetone before staining.
Quetol 651 Resin Kit (TAAB Cat. No. Q005)
A low viscosity water miscible resin for both LM an EM. The polymerised blocks section more easily than ordinary epoxy resin mixtures.
Kushida H et al. (1986) Pro. 11th Congress EM p. 2177. Kyoto
TAAB Epocure Cold Curing Epoxy (TAAB Cat. No. E206)
Epocure is a two component epoxy resin with minimum shrinkage and good mechanical properties when cured. Cures in around 2 hours and is suitable for paint, paper, silicon, ceramics, metals, wafers and chips. Miscible with 1,2 Dichloroethane when liquid.
Spurr Resin Kit (TAAB Cat. No. S024/D
The low viscosity component ERL 4206 is discontinued but good results are still achieved using ERL 4221D as a straight alternative.
Unicryl Resin Kit (TAAB Cat. No. U009)
A new universal resin for:
- Light Microscopy
- Electron Microscopy
- Immunolabelling
- In-situ Hybridisation
- Histochemistry
Unicryl is a single component and easy to use resin which gives excellent structural preservation of tissues without chemically interacting or crosslinking with them. The resin exhibits a low viscosity even down to -50°C. The resin can be polymerised by heat at 50°C-60°C or by UV irradiation at low temperatures of -10°C to -20°C. The resin has a long shelf life when stored in the cold, however it deteriorates quickly above ambient and requires special packing for export shipping.
TAAB Low Viscosity Resin (TLV) (TAAB Cat. No. T049)
The replacement for Spurr.
This resin replaces Spurr, as ERL4206, the main component of Spurr is discontinued. TLV provides excellent penetration for embedding biological specimens and the hardness of the block can be adjusted by changing the ratios of the two hardeners VH1 and VH2. The blocks section easily, stain well and are stable in the electron beam.
None of the components has the known carcinogenicity of ERL4206 but as with the laboratory use of all resins care should be taken at all stages of handling with the use of gloves and ensuring the area is well ventilated.
TAAB Lemix Kits for EM and LM
This very useful resin rapidly penetrates blocks following conventional dehydration without the use of intermediate solvents such as propylene oxide. The Monomer A is fully miscible with water and than therefore be used to achieve water replacement without causing excessive shrinkage. Lipid loss is much less than with ethanol dehydration, typically 40% compared with 90%. When polymerised the resin remains hydrophilic, improving the use of aqueous stains. The resin produces excellent ultra and semi-thin sections. Ultra-thin sections readily take up EM stains and have a high degree of beam stability at 100kV with only slight background granularity.
Four kits are available:
Cat. No. L028 – Ethanol/Acetone dehydration EM
Cat. No. L029 – Water replacement using Monomer A (with Hardener D)
Cat. No. L030 – Ethanol/Acetone dehydration LM
Cat. No. L032 – Water replacement using Monomer A
TAAB 812 Resin Kit (TAAB Cat. No. T024 & T024/1
A high quality resin produced in small batches to act as an exact equivalent to the Epon 812, but produced to a higher specification with a weight per epoxide of 148-150. It is a reliable, popular resin suitable for EM and giving very good results in LM but it still has quite a high viscosity. Whilst this is acceptable for EM it can restrict specimen size for LM.
TAAB Embedding Resin Kit (TAAB Cat. No. T004 & T004/1
A relatively low viscosity resin developed by TAAB to counter some of the deficits of both Araldite and Epon 812. Developed for biological specimens for EM and LM it exhibits excellent cutting and staining qualities, with freedom from background ‘grain’. A wide range of hardness can be obtained by varying the proportion of the hardeners DDSA and MNA.
TAAB Transmit Resin (TAAB Cat. No. T044 & T043
A low viscosity epoxy resin with comparable performance to Spurr’s except that a softer block is usually produced. It has good sectioning characteristics, electron beam stability and low background ‘grain’. A good resin for LM use, easy to handle and much less toxic than Spurr’s being comparable with Araldite. An exceptional advantage is that the monomer is water miscible and can be used to dehydrate specimens where alcohol and acetone should be avoided.
Two kits are available:
Transmit LM – designed for semi-thin sectioning for light microscopy.
Transmit EM – designed for ultra-thin sectioning for electron microscopy.
For orders or enquiries please contact us.