Metallographic Mounting
Beta Diamond Products supplies thermosetting and cold-cure epoxy mounting consumables for metallographic sample preparation. Proper mounting protects specimen edges, provides a standardized geometry for grinding and polishing, and — when the resin hardness is correctly matched to the specimen — prevents the differential material removal (relief) that causes the specimen surface to become non-planar during polishing. Comparable to the mounting consumables from Buehler, Struers, and Allied High Tech, typically 20 to 40 percent lower in price.
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Compression Mounting Resin - All Colors
From $29.00
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Compression Mounting Resin - Epoxy
From $120.00
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Compression Mounting Resin - Graphite-Filled
From $29.00
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Epoxy Resin (Low-Viscosity)
From $20.00
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Epoxy Hardener (Low-Viscosity)
From $20.00
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Silicone Rubber Mold - 1.5in (5/pkg)
$30.00
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Silicone Rubber Mold - 1.25in (5/pkg)
$30.00
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2-Piece Plastic Mold - 1.25in (10/pkg)
$35.00
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2-Piece Plastic Mold - 1in (10/pkg)
$30.00
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Plastic Peg Specimen Clip
From $15.00
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Metal Spring Specimen Clip
From $22.00
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Plastic Spring Specimen Clip
From $15.00
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Plastic Tripod Specimen Clip
From $15.00
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Plastic Mixing Cups - 9 oz (50/pkg)
$9.00
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Wooden Stirring Stick - 100/pkg
$9.00
Hot Compression Mounting
Thermosetting resins (phenolic/Bakelite, diallyl phthalate, acrylic-filled epoxy) are cured at 150–180°C under 150–300 bar pressure in a mounting press. Cycle time is 5–8 minutes per mount. Hot mounting is appropriate for all temperature-stable specimens: most steels, cast irons, aluminum alloys, copper alloys, titanium alloys (if below 150°C for the mounting cycle), and nickel superalloys.
Resin types and their applications:
- Phenolic (Bakelite): Standard, low-cost, opaque. Good hardness (HV ~120). Not transparent — cannot visually align specimen before mounting.
- Diallyl phthalate (DAP): Harder than phenolic (HV ~150). Better edge retention. Used for hard alloys and coatings requiring maximum edge retention.
- Conductive Bakelite (carbon-filled): Electrically conductive. Required when the mounted specimen will be examined in a SEM without gold or carbon coating (grounding through the mount).
- Transparent acrylic: Clear; allows visual verification of specimen orientation. Lower hardness — use only for soft materials where edge retention is not critical.
Cold Cure Epoxy Mounting
Two-part epoxy systems cured at room temperature, required for all temperature-sensitive specimens. Selection criteria:
- Standard structural epoxy (cure time 8–12 hours): Highest hardness; best edge retention; suitable for most applications. Used for electronic components, polymer-coated specimens, lead and zinc alloys.
- Fast-cure acrylic (cure time 20–30 minutes): Lower hardness than standard epoxy but adequate for most metals. Useful in high-throughput labs where cold mounting cycle time must be minimized.
- Low-viscosity epoxy for vacuum impregnation: Viscosity <500 cP at room temperature. Required for porous specimens (powder metallurgy parts, porous ceramics, geological specimens with open porosity) where a standard-viscosity epoxy would not fully infiltrate the pore structure. Used with a vacuum impregnation system to force the epoxy into the pores before cure.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use hot compression mounting vs. cold cure epoxy?
Hot compression mounting (150–180°C, 150–300 bar) is preferred for high-throughput labs with temperature-stable specimens: steels, cast irons, aluminum alloys, copper alloys, nickel superalloys. Cold cure epoxy is required for temperature-sensitive specimens including electronic components, PCBs, semiconductor devices, lead and zinc alloys, polymer-coated specimens, and any specimen where the thermal or mechanical stress of the mounting press would damage the microstructure or degrade the bond being examined.
How do I vacuum-impregnate a porous specimen before mounting?
Vacuum impregnation is performed with a low-viscosity cold cure epoxy and a vacuum impregnation chamber or bell jar. Place the specimen in a mold. Pour low-viscosity epoxy to cover the specimen. Apply vacuum (50–100 mbar) for 10–15 minutes to evacuate air from the pores. Release vacuum — atmospheric pressure forces the liquid epoxy into the now-evacuated pore structure. Allow to cure under vacuum or at atmospheric pressure per the epoxy instructions. Verify impregnation by cross-sectioning a test specimen and examining for filled vs. unfilled porosity at low magnification.
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