Silicone Mold Cups Use Instructions

Refer to the original PDF for tables, figures and page layout.

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Product Guide 
Silicone Mold Cups 
Date: 06/2020, v1.4 
Silicone mold cups are made of silicone rubber and are used to encapsulate samples in acrylic 
or epoxy cold mounting products. Their 0.5" thick walls and 1" cup depth provides durability, 
stability and dimensional consistency from mount to mount. The mold cups are offered in a 
variety of shapes and sizes and have corresponding central force sample holders available for 
use with Allied grinding/polishing machines with a power head and either a 10" or 12" platen. 
Item Number 
Mount Dimensions 
Sample Holder 
#197-20000 
2.25" x 4.25" x 1.25" (57 x 108 mm x 32 mm) oval 
Not yet available 
#197-20005 
2" (51 mm) diameter 
#5-3440, #5-3662 
#197-20011 
1" x 2" (25 x 51 mm) rectangle 
#5-3490 
#197-20025 
1.3" x 2.6" (33 x 66 mm) rectangle 
#5-3491 
#197-20030 
1.9" x 1.9" (48 x 48 mm) square 
#5-3494 
#197-20050 
2" x 3.6" (51 x 91 mm) rectangle 
#5-3650 
#197-20055 
1.7" x 4.6" (43 x 118 mm) rectangle 
#5-3668 
#197-20060 
1.75" x 3.5" (45 x 89 mm) rectangle 
#5-3669 
5-3650 Sample Holder for use with 197-20050 mold cups
www.alliedhightech.com 
Allied High Tech Products, Inc. 
Call for more information: 800.675.1118 


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www.alliedhightech.com 
Allied High Tech Products, Inc. 
Call for more information: 800.675.1118 
2 of 2 
Instructions for Use with Epoxy 
Since the mixing ratios for most epoxy products are formulated for 1.25" ø x 1" T mounts to 
cure at room temperature (77° F, 25° C), using these mixing ratios at room temperature with 
the larger silicone mold cups can cause the epoxy to have a higher exothermic temperature 
during the cure cycle. If the exothermic temperature becomes too high, the epoxy will overheat 
and possibly crack, turn yellow, shrink or damage the sample. Two ways to overcome these 
problems are as follows: 
1. Reduce the ratio of hardener to resin of the epoxy being used. It may take some
experimentation to determine the correct ratios and amounts needed for a particular
mold size. See the appropriate epoxy product guide for more information.
2. Dissipate heat from the curing epoxy by placing the silicone mold cup in a shallow bath
of cold water.
Instructions for Use with Acrylic 
The mixing ratio for most acrylics is 2:1 powder to liquid mixed by volume. It may take some 
experimentation to determine the correct amounts needed for a particular mold size while 
maintaining the correct mixing ratio. See the appropriate acrylic product guide for more 
information. 
Expected Mold Life 
When using the following cold mounting materials, silicone mold cups will last for: 
•
Acrylic – 100+ mounts
•
Epoxy – 20-30 mounts, depending on the cure temperature and active chemicals of the
specific epoxy used
After the indicated number of uses, the molds will become brittle and hard, causing them to 
flake. The mounting material will also adhere to the mold walls, making it more difficult to 
remove mounts after they are cured. 
Mold release (#200-10006, #200-10010 or #200-10015) can be used to reduce adhesion of the 
mounting material to the mold walls, making it easier to remove cured mounts from the molds. 
Using mold release can also prolong the life of the mold cups by protecting the silicone from 
chemicals found in some cold mounting materials. 
Technical Information 
Silicone Rubber 
Hardness (Shore A) 
40 
Tensile Strength (MPa) 
5.5 
Elongation (%) 
350 
Tear Strength (kN/m) 
25 
Operating Temperature (°C) 
-60 ≤ T ≤ 250