Compression Mounting Powders Information
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Page 1 Product Guide www.alliedhightech.com Allied High Tech Products, Inc. Call for more information: 800.675.1118 Hot/Compression Mounting Powders Date: 10/2020, v1.1 Refer to the SDS documents for additional safety information. Hot mounting, or compression mounting, uses pressure and heat to encapsulate a sample for grinding/polishing. It is an economical mounting method for samples that can withstand the pressure and heat used. Hot mounting protects the sample edges, makes small/irregular samples easier to handle, makes manual/semiautomatic polishing easier and facilitates etching after sample polishing. There are a variety of hot mounting powders available for a range of applications listed below along with the durometer hardness (Shore D) of each cured mount: Part Numbers Phenolic: 135-100XX Blue Diallyl Phthalate: 160-100XX Black Glass-Filled Epoxy: 150-101XX Transparent Thermoplastic: 165-100XX Graphite: 155-200XX Copper: 155-10010 A wood-based bakelite mounting powder used for routine applications, when color-coding for material identification, or as backfill for more expensive mounting powders. Shore D 85-90 Phenolic A mounting powder, offered as either glass- or mineral-filled, that provides excellent edge retention and chemical resistance. Shore D 90-95 Blue Diallyl Phthalate A hard mounting material with glass fiber filler that provides excellent specimen adhesion and edge retention. Use of mold release is recommended. Shore D 80-90 Black Glass-Filled Epoxy A powder used for routine applications and offers a clear mount for easy sample observation without yellowing over time. Shore D 70-85 Transparent Thermoplastic These conductive mounting powders are used for SEM, EBSD and electrolytic polishing applications. Copper-based should be used for samples where copper is not a primary constituent, and graphite-based is recommended for samples without carbon as a component. Shore D 85-90 Graphite Copper Shore D 85-90 Page 2 www.alliedhightech.com Allied High Tech Products, Inc. Call for more information: 800.675.1118 2 of 2 Instructions 1. Place samples in an ultrasonic cleaner with a diluted GP cleaning solution and clean for 5 minutes. Then, rinse the samples with ethyl alcohol and dry them with compressed air spray. Excess moisture can be removed by heat drying on a hot plate at 70-100 °C for a few minutes. Note: Cleaning is a vital step to achieving good adhesion between the mounting material and the sample. Excess oil, grease or foreign particles can result in gaps that can negatively affect the sample finish. 2. It is recommended to apply mold release to surfaces that the mounting material will come into contact with (e.g., top and bottom die, spacer, assembly chamber) so that the mount will come off easily after the cycle. Keep the sample away from the mold release. Make sure the mold release is dry before the sample is placed on the die, or the mounting powder could adhere to the die. Note: User preference determines use of spray, liquid or powder. Reference the table below for part numbers. 3. With the bottom die raised to the top, place the sample in the center of the die (Figure 1). 4. Lower the bottom die. 5. Place the powder inside. The amount used will depend on the type of powder, and the size of both the sample and assembly. For example, about 1.5-2 scoops are used for a standard 1.25" phenolic mold. Note: If duplexing (mounting 2 samples per cycle), less powder may be needed in the top and bottom section to close the assembly with the bayonet cap, regardless of mount type or size. 6. Set the curing time, temperature and pressure parameters on the press as specified in the operation manual. 7. After the cycle time is complete, turn the bayonet to “open” and raise the die until the bayonet and mount can be removed (Figure 2). Flashing, excess powder that has migrated onto the dies and cured, is normal and will need to be removed from the mount, the top and bottom dies, and the spacer if it was used. Remove flashing using the brass brush or the scraping tool included with the press. Mold Release Part Numbers Silicone Spray (Hot): 200-10005 PTFE Spray (Hot or Cold): 200-10006 PTFE Liquid (Hot or Cold): 200-10015 Powder (Hot): 200-10100 Figure 1: Place the sample in the center of the die. Figure 2: Remove the mount after the cycle has finished. If the sample needs to be removed from the mount, it may be possible to remove it by sectioning away excess material with a plated rim diamond blade and then chiseling away the remaining mounting material.