Case studies

Case Studies

Consistence has been involved in all kinds of material research. Below you will find a non-confidential selection of our work. Click on each image to get more detailed stories. This is only a small part of our expertise. For questions please contact us.

SEM stereo image of lettuce seed (Lactuca sativa)

Dry Seeds

Dry seeds are difficult to investigate in terms of structure. SEM is the ultimate method to study cell contents and the intercellular spaces in the dried state, both at millimetre scale and at sub-micron level.

Cryoplaning SEM image of imbibed lettuce seed (Lactuca sativa). Image width is 460 µm. Photo by Jaap Nijsse.

Seed Germination

Not all seeds germinate, for various reasons. This is an important topic in horticulture, but it has so far been very difficult to trace explanations down to the cellular level. With time-lapse imaging, the germination of seeds can be documented.

Phone screen magnification

Phone screen

The amazing beauty of the rainbow, white light, mobile phone screens, … and ‘regular’ stereo light microscopy.

Cryo-SEM analysis of hollow wax fibres from cottony hydrangea scale insects (Pulvinaria hydrangeae). By Jaap Nijsse, Consistence Microstructure Research Laboratory

Hollow fibrils

To make these hollow, hexagonal fibres would be a good challenge for nano engineers, please react! Good for them to know that the cottony hydrangea scale insects (hortensia woldopluis in dutch) already have the method in perfection.

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images of IKEA pencil at increasing magnifications, showing traceable visualisation in four steps to 50kx magnification. Backscattered electron sputter shadow contrast. By Jaap Nijsse, Consistence Microstructure Research Laboratory.

Pencil

IKEA pencil magnified 50k times in four steps. High magnifications of materials and products seem disconnected from the real world. But …

Cryo-SEM imaging of grapevine gall mite, (Colomerus vitis), hidden in leaf gall of grape vine (Vitis vinifera). Photos and drawing by Jaap Nijsse, www.Consistence.nl

Gall Mite

Owners of grapevines would recognise the protrusions on the imaged leaf as blisters created by the gall mite. But who has ever seen it?

Confocal Microscopy image of worn jeans textile. Denim. Autofluorescence signal, 3D projection. Photo by Paul Nijsse, www.Consistence.nl

Worn jeans

This is a confocal microscopy 3D image of denim, as an example of the amazing effect of rather low magifications of daily stuff.

Dia41

Hummus

Here a beautiful visualisation of houmous microstructure.Besides being a very tasty plant based spread, originating from the middle east, its microstructure is impressive as well.

Confocal Microscopy image of Apple Sauce (Appelmoes), consisting of loose, collapsed apple cells. Image width is 784 µm. Acridine Orange stained. Photo by Jaap Nijsse, www.Consistence.nl

Apple sauce

The microstructure of this beloved product is made up of loose cooked apple cells. Earlier in life…..

210119 Margarine vs Halvarine deoiled

Fat Crystals

Already in 1987 Isaac Heertje published a method to visualise the fat crystal network in margarines. We now have revisited this method, …

Face Mask melt blown fibres SEM Microstructure Consistence

Face Mask

In an earlier post we visualised a planar view of a face mask filter at increasing magnification, showing a heterogeneous network of fibres. 

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email: info at consistence.nl

tel: +31 6 4468 1439

address: Fennaweg 53, 2991 ZA Barendrecht, The Netherlands.

Our aim is to provide world class microstructural insights and we are happy to receive feedback. Contact us for more information if this page is relevant to your research. Free use of the images and content of this webpage is permitted with reference to Consistence. Contact us for full resolution images.

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