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fixative |
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fixative 1. a fluid usually consisting of a transparent resin, such as shellac, dissolved in alcohol and sprayed over drawings to prevent smudging 2. Cytology a fluid, such as formaldehyde or ethanol, that fixes tissues and cells for microscopic study 3. a substance added to a liquid, such as a perfume, to make it less volatile fixative [′fik·səd·iv] (materials) A chemical or a mixture of chemicals used to treat biological specimens before preservation so as to retain a reasonable facsimile of their appearance when alive. A substance used to increase the durability of another substance; used to fix dye mordants, hold textile dyes and pigments, and slow the rate of perfume evaporation. Also known as fixing agent. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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Around 1920, botanists started to embed plant samples in wax, first treating them with alcohol fixatives, which dissolved plant oils. Fixatives developed in the past were designed for use only on a small scale and in controlled environments, such as inside the containment building for a nuclear-power reactor, notes physicist Christina A. That's been the best formula for Fibam, a producer of metal fixatives, 66% of which are sold to the automotive sector. |
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