failed characterization of the half products of examples 1 4 by scanning electron microscopy the half products obtained in examples 1 4 were characterized by electron microscopy with the results seen in the micrographs of fig2 2c and 3 3c samples for fig2 2c were prepared by excising a small piece from each half product using a miniature saw then placing the excised piece in liquid fluorinated hydrocarbon refrigerant at approximately 190 u00b0 c 310 u00b0 f and allowing the piece to equilibrate thermally then transferring the piece to liquid nitrogen and fracturing the piece to present a cross sectional surface then placing the piece under vacuum to allow the liquid nitrogen to boil off and any remaining water ice crystals to be removed by sublimation then mounting the sample on the scanning electron microscope stub evaporatively coating the cross sectional surface with carbon and sputter coating with gold to render the cross sectional surface electrically conductive samples for observation of external surface characteristics resulting in the micrographs of fig3 3c were prepared simply by cutting a small piece from the half product by use of a miniature saw mounting the piece on the stub and then evaporatively coating the external surface with carbon and sputter coating with gold thus prepared the samples were observed with a cambridge nodel s 180 scanning electron microscope photographs being taken with polaroid type 52 film positive only considering first the scanning electron micrographs of fig3 3c showing the external surface characteristics of the half products it will be seen that that the external surface of the potato half product of example 4 is very irregular including marked hills and valleys and relatively large and deep holes.