How to choose the correct cold embedding resin? And listen to Ke Mai's editor explain:

     There are two main types of cold embedding resins used for the preparation of metallographic specimens, covering the room temperature embedding and embedding of most materials. One type is epoxy resin system, which has good physical adsorption ability, low shrinkage rate, and strong permeability. Another type is acrylic resin system, which has a very fast curing time.

     The choice of cold embedding resin also depends on the two core elements of the material characteristics and experimental purpose of the sample. Let's follow these two elements to see how to choose the correct cold embedding resin.

     When choosing a cold embedding resin, it is necessary to verify whether the following eight basic indicators match your material and the purpose of this experiment:

     1. Transparency, 2 Curing time, 3. Viscosity, 4 Shrinkage rate, 5. Hardness, 6 Peak exothermic temperature, 7. Mixing ratio of resin and curing agent, 8 Scope of application.

     Let's summarize the specific selection criteria based on these eight indicators.

     If rapid sample preparation and immediate testing are required, then choose AcryQuick acrylic resin from QMAXIS (Kemai).

     The quality inspection department is very common, and companies that work in three shifts naturally require fast testing speed for continuous production. There are no additional special requirements for studying conventional materials and conducting general experiments, so no more time will be wasted in the embedding process. So, the indicator of rapid solidification is ranked first.

     AcryQuick acrylic resin from QMAXIS (Kemai) is white and opaque, with a curing time of 8-12 minutes, moderate viscosity, shrinkage rate, Shore hardness of 82, peak exothermic temperature of 65 ℃, and a 2:1 volume ratio of resin and curing agent. It is widely used for rapid and batch sample preparation in the electronic component and printed circuit board industries.

     2. If you want to avoid the odor of acrylic resin and want to quickly prepare samples, choose EpoQuick epoxy resin from QMAXIS (Kemai).

     In fact, most experimenters still hope to save time, and if the material is not unique, of course, they hope to do so as soon as possible. Epoxy resin has a small taste and is more easily accepted by experimental personnel. This EpoQuick epoxy resin is transparent and can cure in about 2 hours at room temperature. It has extremely low viscosity, low shrinkage, a Shore hardness of 80, a peak exothermic temperature of 110 ℃, and a volume ratio of 5:1 between resin and curing agent. It is suitable for rapid and batch sample preparation of conventional materials.

    If time is not the first priority and avoiding high temperatures is the primary requirement for preparing materials, then choose EpoCure epoxy resin from QMAXIS (Kemai).

     The inlay work and other tasks are conducted in a cross manner, and very few inlays only silently wait for curing, so the experimental personnel do not care about the curing time factor. If the material is afraid of the impact of high temperature, it is necessary to choose a resin with a low exothermic temperature no matter what. EpoCure is the preferred target. This epoxy resin is also transparent, with a curing time of about 6 hours, low viscosity, and low shrinkage rate. It has a Shore hardness of 80, a peak exothermic temperature of only 40 ℃, and a volume ratio of 4:1 between the resin and curing agent. This is the cold embedded epoxy resin system commonly used in most materials laboratories for sample preparation.

     4. If the material is not only sensitive to heat, but also has multiple pores and structures, and the interface between the resin and the sample is required to be clear during observation, then QMAXIS (Kemai) EpoFlow epoxy resin will inevitably be chosen.

     The characteristics of the material are primary, and preparation time and so on are secondary. The resin must be able to penetrate into pores, cracks, and structures to support the true overall appearance of the material and prevent damage to the sample during polishing. If EpoFlow epoxy resin is combined with the Air-Out vacuum system, it can perfectly undertake this task. This epoxy resin is also transparent, with a curing time of about 9 hours. However, the longer the curing time, the more time it needs to be given to achieve gentle penetration and adhesion. Low viscosity and low shrinkage are necessary for penetration. The Shore hardness is 78, and the peak exothermic temperature is 40 ℃, which can be accepted by most materials. The volume ratio of resin to curing agent is 2:1, making it the preferred epoxy resin for porous samples and heat sensitive materials.

     Next issue preview: QMAXIS (Kemai) metallographic specimen embedding technology exchange - tips for cold embedding preparation of metallographic specimens? Stay tuned!