The possibility of performing scanning electron microscopy under “environmental” conditions (ESEM); where the specimen does not have to be under high-vacuum conditions, or even coated to make it conductive, has existed for several years [1]. in particular it has been possible to image in conditions that allow the samples to remain fully hydrated during observation. This unique feature of the ESEM has been exploited to image the dehydration of aqueous protein gel materials which have been created under controlled conditions to produce a range of Gel types.

Drops of several μl of the Gels were placed in the Peltier cooling stage of the FEI-Philips Electroscan E3, and allowed to stabilize at 4.1°C. Several drops of water were placed on the stagesurround to maintain a high vapor pressure of water around the sample. The chamber was then pumped down to the working pressure of 6 torr and then back-filled with pure water vapor following the technique of Cameron et.al. [2].