What is Effective Hot Mounting?
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There is a full range of mounting and embedding mediums for hot mounting. Different types of material require different mediums. For those unaware, hot mounting is the process of placing the material in a cylinder with a suitable mounting resin. This process usually takes place under high pressure within a mounting press. The temperature for hot mounting can reach up to 200 degrees Celsius (and a pressure of up to 50 kN).
The heat and pressure are both applied during the embedding process.
As compared to cold mounting, hot mounting is preferred when the preparation requirements include short processing time and uniform shape and size. It is also less costly.
Hot mounting is of two types: using thermosetting resins or thermoplastic resins.
The thermoplastic resins melt when the heat is applied. This makes way for repeating the process with the same material if the result was not as intended the first time. These resins then harden. This happens during a chemical reaction within the mounting press. It can be with or without pressure. During heating and cooling, high pressure is not critical. Thermoplastic hot mounting is good for more fragile materials.
On the other hand, thermosetting resins cannot be re-melted once mounted. They cure at higher temperatures upon pressure application.
Both types of hot mounting provide plenty of usefulness. For example, they provide support and protection of the material sample. Hot mounting is also great as it makes handling the sample easier.
You might also need uniform shapes or sizes for clamping.
All in all, there are several use case scenarios where hot mounting can be very effective. Industrial hot mounting is a long process because a lot of specimens need to be produced. The average heating time ranges from 2.5 minutes to up to 5 minutes in most cases. The total process time can be up to 11 minutes.
