Oriented sols for fiber diffraction from limited quantities or hazardous materials

A method for making oriented sols for fiber diffraction is described. Samples are made by centrifuging dilute solutions of filamentous assemblies in thin-walled glass X-ray capillaries for several days at low speeds. Orientation is improved by exposure to high magnetic fields. The method is demonstrated for tobacco mosaic virus and potato virus X, and shown to produce orientation comparable with that achieved by conventional methods of specimen preparation. The method requires much smaller quantities than conventional methods, and is better suited for use with hazardous materials and labile assemblies.