Cold Mounting

Cold mounting or embedding is when a resin is mixed with a hardener (or accelerator) to provide the mounting compound, and then the polymerization process take place to form the block. In some cases, this process gives-off heat. However this heat generation can be controlled by the use of ice or cool air blow setting. Cold mounting compounds are preferred for specimens that are sensitive to the heat or pressure, which applies during the hot mounting process. There are three types of cold mounting:

1. Epoxy Systems - Epoxies have the lowest shrinkage of all cold mounting resins. The curing time is relatively long, but the adhesion to most materials is excellent. They are also used for vacuum impregnation. The hardened epoxy is duroplastic and not affected by moderate heat or chemicals.

2. Acrylic System - Acrylics are easy to use resins with short curing times and negligible shrinkage. They consist of self-polymerizing components that harden with the addition of catalyst. Hardened acrylic is thermoplastic and resistant to most chemicals.

3. Polyester Systems - Polyester belongs to the catalyzed system, like acrylics. Curing times are relatively short and the hardened specimen is duroplastic.

Choosing a Cold Mount*

Cat # Resin Color Curing Time Shrinkage
From 1-4
(Best: 1)
Hardness Application
1233 EMSFix Clear, Transparent
Refractive index: ND = 1.561
1½ hr in oven at 75°C/167°F 85 Shore D Vacuum impregnation
Porous samples
Mineralogical samples
1234 UniMount Clear, Transparent
Refractive index: ND = 1.573
8 hours 84 Shore D Vacuum impregnation
Porous samples
Mineralogical samples
1235 TransFix Colorless, clear (extremely clear when cured under pressure). Otherwise semi-transparent. 20 min. • • • 83 Shore D Vias
Microvias
1256 AcryMount Dull yellowish, partly transparent 10 min • • • • 82 Shore D Routine examination
1257 GeoFix Colorless, clear (extremely clear when cured under pressure). 20 min • • • 85 Shore D Extraordinarily
clear mounts
1258 MatFix Light yellow 30 min 85 Shore D Fast curing
No shrinkage
1259 LiteFix Off-white 20 min • • 84 Shore D Edge Retention
Planeness
1265 Acrylic-Dye Blue, Red & Yellow Dyes for easy identification of your acrylic mounts
1270 Poly-Mount Transparent
Polyester
Low viscosity
45 min • • • • Serial mounting of specimens not sensitive to heat
1276 Poly-AcryMount White
Polyester/Acrylic
18-25 min Edge Retention
Planeness
* 30 mm dia. mount with a 45% carbon steel specimen (20 vol%)

Specifications

Cat # Mixing Ratio
Weight
Mixing Ratio Volume Mixing
Time
Potlife Color Can be colored with EpoDye Can be colored with AcryDye Peak Temp
1233 Resin:
25 parts
Hardener: 7 parts
Resin:
31 parts
Hardener: 10 parts
5
min
>60
min
Clear, Transparent
Refractive index: ND = 1.561
X   170°C
338°F
1234 Resin:
7 parts
Curing Agent:
1 part
Resin:
26 parts
Curing Agent:
5 parts
3
min
60
min
Clear, Transparent
Refractive index: ND = 1.573
X   60°C
140°F
1235 Liquid:
11 parts
Powder:
9 parts
Liquid:
1 part
Powder:
2 parts
30
sec
2
min
Colorless, clear (extremely clear when cured under pressure). Otherwise semi-transparent X X 115°C
239°F
1256 Liquid:
10 parts
Powder:
15 parts
Liquid:
1 part
Powder:
2 parts
30
sec
3
min
Dull yellowish, partly transparent X 100°C
212°F
1257 Liquid:
6 parts
Powder:
10 parts
Liquid:
2 parts
Powder:
5 parts

min

min
Colorless, clear (extremely clear when cured under pressure) X X 90°C
194°F
1258 Liquid I:
8 parts
Liquid II:
4 parts
Powder:
14 parts
Liquid I:
10 parts
Liquid II:
5 parts
Powder:
15 parts

min
4
min
Light yellow X 138°C
280°F
1259 Liquid:
10 parts
Powder:
20 parts
Liquid:
1 part
Powder:
2 parts
45
sec

min
Off-white X 75°C
167°F
1265 Blue, Red & Yellow
1270 Transparent
Polyester
Low viscosity
1276 White
Polyester/Acrylic
114°C
Cat # Description MSDS Pack Price Quote Quantity
Cat #: 1233 Description: Emsfix Pack: Each Price: $307.50 Add to Quote:
Cat #: 1234 Description: Unimount Pack: Kit Price: $445.00 Add to Quote:
Cat #: 1235 Description: Transfix Pack: Each Price: $305.50 Add to Quote:
Cat #: 1256 Description: Acrymount Pack: Kit Price: $188.50 Add to Quote:
Cat #: 1258 Description: Matfix Pack: Each Price: $373.00 Add to Quote:
Cat #: 1259 Description: Litefix Pack: Each Price: $315.00 Add to Quote:
Cat #: 1265 Description: Acrylic-Dye, 60mL (20mL Each Yellow, Red, Blue) Pack: 20 mL Price: $153.50 Add to Quote:
Cat #: 1270 Description: Polymount Pack: Kit Price: $228.00 Add to Quote:
Cat #: 1276 Description: Polyacrymount Pack: Kit Price: $461.00 Add to Quote:
Cat #: 1257 Description: Geofix Pack: Each Price: $359.50 Add to Quote: