Appendix D
Appendix D. Glass surface treatment of slides and cover slips
In microscopy observation of diluted bitumen emulsion, wettability of slides
and cover slips are important. If the surface of slides and cover slips can be
wetted by dispersed droplets (either water or oil), dispersed droplets will stick on
the glass surface and coalesce. Thereby for water-in-oil emulsion, glass surface
should be oil-wet; for oil-in-water emulsion, glass surface should be water-wet.
D.1. Methods to make glass surface hydrophilic
1. If glass surface is very clean and hydrophilic, no treatment needed.
2. If glass surface is not completely hydrophilic, put slides and cover slips into
Nochromix cleaning solution (from Godax lab Inc.) for 1 h.
3. After that, put slides and cover slips into 0.1 M NaHCO3 for 1 h to neutralize
the residual acid.
4. Use de-ionized water to wash slides and cover slips.
5. Use tissue paper to wipe the residual water and the slides and cover slips are
ready to use.
D.2. Methods to make glass surface hydrophobic
1. Put dry slides and cover slips into Silanization solution (From Fluka, dimethyl-
dichlorosilane in heptane solution) for 1 min.
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