International
Tables for
Crystallography
Volume C
Mathematical, physical and chemical tables
Edited by E. Prince

International Tables for Crystallography (2006). Vol. C. ch. 3.4, p. 163

Table 3.4.1.1 

P. F. Lindleya

a ESRF, Avenue des Martyrs, BP 220, F-38043 Grenoble CEDEX, France

Table 3.4.1.1 | top | pdf |
Single-crystal and powder mounting, capillary tubes and other containers

Material Temperature range (K) Comments
(A) Capillary tubes
Glass < 773 Lindemann glass scatters less, but is moisture sensitive
Thinner walled tubes that are less sensitive to atmospheric influences can be obtained using other types of glass
Lindemann glass < 773
Vitreous silica < 1373
Collodion 93 to 343 These capillaries can be made by coating a copper wire with a solution of the polymer in an appropriate organic solvent. When dry, the metal core may be removed by stretching, to reduce its diameter
Polyvinyl methylal resin (e.g. Formvar) < 323
Cellulose acetate < 373
Polyethylene < 373 Tubes may be drawn from the molten polymer using a glass tube and a slow stream of air. The polymer gives a distinct diffraction pattern
(B) Other containers
Gelatin capsules < 303 Vessels with very thin, 20 µm, windows can be made
Methyl methacrylate resin (e.g. Perspex) < 338  
Mica < 1073 Mica windows useful in vessels for small-angle scattering, but the wall size is generally thicker, ∼0.3 mm, and there are discrete lines at 10.00, 3.34 and 2.60 Å in the diffraction pattern
Regenerated cellulose film (e.g. cellophane) Ambient  

For optimum results, tube diameters should be between 0.3 and 0.5 mm with wall thicknesses of 0.02 to 0.05 mm. The materials listed above, except where stated, give diffuse diffraction patterns. If necessary, control diffraction patterns, recorded only from the capillary or other container, should be taken.