Petropoxy 154 User`s Manual
Contents
1. 1982 Preparation of grain mounts Jour Sed Petrology v 52 p 667 Page 8 Petranaxv 154 Instructions Rev 01 14 REPAIRING BROKEN OR CRACKED THIN SECTIONS Glass to glass bonds with Petropoxy 154 are so strong that many cracked or broken thin sections repaired with Petropoxy 154 will virtually have their original strength The procedures below apply only to sections which have been mounted with Petropoxy 154 although in some cases the procedures may be modified for sections mounted with other epoxides or thermoplastic materials e g Lakeside 70C Cracked sections For a section that is merely cracked and not broken place the section on aluminum foil over paper on the hot plate and allow to dry Apply a bead of Petropoxy 154 along the crack After 10 minutes cure and while the section remains on the hot plate scrape off the bead of Petropoxy 154 with a single edge razor blade If a slide cracks during the cut off process it can usually be salvaged Most thin section machines will not crack the slide any further if you use the cutoff saw and coarse lap with care After using the thin section machine but before hand lapping treat as in the above paragraph If the crack developed as a result of excess Petropoxy 154 around the perimeter of the specimen remove some of that excess after the crack repair is cured but while the section remains on the hot plate Broken sections For a broken section place the pieces section side up on very2. RAA P Lil I ES LLE Phone eT o e Fax 208 687 0232 AA N g Preparation of thin sections for all methods of analysis artisans burnhampetrographics com AZANZA hurnh amnetracranhi ee CAM aa MIXING PETROPOXY 154 Petropoxy 154 needs mixing only once about every 5 days This will save you a lot of time and effort but you must make the effort to mix it correctly Cut off the tip of the Yorker spout at a point about halfway between the tip and the rib for holding the red cap This will give the spout an exit 1 d of about 3mm Dispensing Place one of the disposable beakers on a level surface With the beaker at eye level fill to the 5ml or 10ml level with Petropoxy 154 Resin Add the curing agent to the resin at the concentration of 10phr For example to 5 0ml of Resin add 0 5ml of Curing Agent Fill one of the Icc syringes by drawing the curing agent into the syringe The initial bubble can be eliminated by repeating this procedure If the syringe has two scales be sure to use the cc scale not the M scale After use wipe off the syringe put the cap back on and save it It will last for months With careful use of the equipment provided it is a simple matter to keep the curing agent concentration CAC to within an accuracy of 0 5phr The CAC can range from between 8phr and 12phr without adversely affecting mechanical properties However the refractive index coefficient dnp dCAC is 0 0002 1phr over th
3. Ave Rathdrum ID 83858 USA Toll Free 800 772 3975 Phone 208 687 5951 Fax 208 687 0232 artisans burnhampetrographics com www hurnhamnetraocranhice cam ON DETERMINING THE REFRACTIVE INDEX OF CURED EPOXIDES Unlike minerals the refractive index of most cured epoxides cannot be determined by crushing or grinding the epoxide into small particles and observing the particles in oils under the microscope This is because most epoxides undergo considerable inelastic strain before fracture and in any polymer the refractive index is a function of strain Nor can the refractive index be measured by observing a flat polished slab of epoxide in a refractometer This is because shrinkage during cure and thermal shrinkage due to cooling from the cure temperature introduce strain near the contact with the specimen This strain can be observed as a faint birefringence For light vibrating in this strained area in the plane orthogonal to the specimen boundary np 1 540 which is slightly lower than for the unstrained Petropoxy 154 farther away from the specimen It should be noted that this birefringence does not affect Becke line observations because two conditions are satisfied 1 the principal stress axes of the epoxide are everywhere essentially orthogonal and tangential to the specimen and 2 within the np limits specified for Petropoxy 154 0 001 the intensities of the principal stresses can be assumed to be constant regardless of spe
4. N09 The first method involves increasing the viscosity of the Petropoxy 154 prior to using it for mounting This can be done by adding Curing Agent to the Resin in the ratio of 1 phr This should be done with at least 10cc of Resin in order to be able to add a volume of curing agent large enough to be accurately dispensed with the syringe For 10 cc Resin add 0 10cc Curing Agent Add the Curing Agent to Resin that has been preheated in an oven at 110 C mix well and heat in the oven for 45 minutes This will increase the viscosity of the Resin substantially Now cool slightly and add Curing Agent in the normal amount 10 phr To facilitate application of the slide you may wish to preheat the Petropoxy 154 and the slide as well as the rock In the second method mount the specimen in the normal manner perhaps using a somewhat thicker than normal glue line Observe the curing very carefully with a probe and when in about 2 minutes the Petropoxy 154 just begins to gel turn the assembly over and check for voids If they are present quickly remove the slide by prying with a single edge razor blade Apply more Petropoxy 154 and then apply another slide It is important not to separate the slide and rock too early wait for the beginning of the gel On the other hand if you wait too long it will be difficult or impossible to separate the slide from the rock Apparently the gelled Petropoxy 154 provides a barrier to further capillarity The operation is
5. and place it on the hot plate with the slide down Avoiding voids between the rock and slide Bonding some specimens particularly ones that are friable or porous to a glass slide without excessive voids in the glue line between the rock and the slide can be troublesome The problem can usually be traced to either moisture or capillarity All moisture must be eliminated from the specimen by heating either in an oven or on the hot plate for as long as several hours The high cure temperature contributes to a strong bond and long pot life but because this cure temperature is above the boiling point of water steam will be generated if there is any residual water in voids or cracks of the specimen At 1 atm steam has a volume about 1 800 times that of water so if water is trapped the resulting steam will force its way between the sample and the slide creating bubbles and destroying the bond The low viscosity of hot Petropoxy 154 while ideal for impregnation and general mounting can result in capillary transfer of Petropoxy 154 from the glue line to voids and cracks in rocks that are porous and permeable Impregnation page 7 and a slightly thicker glue line are usually a big help and it is suggested that these procedures be the routine method for correcting this problem For those rocks for which voids persist in the glue line two methods are given on the next page to further deal with this problem Page 4 Petrnnoxv 154 Instructinns Rev 01
6. dirty an effective way to clean them is to build a wire rack that will hold many slides Clean with hot soapy water in an ultrasonic cleaner followed by a rinse with tap water and a brief rinse with deionized or distilled water Dry in an oven As used here phr stands for parts per hundred parts of resin by volume Page 2 Petropoxy 154 Instructions Rev 01 15 MOUNTING THE SPECIMEN Cure temperature When mounting the specimen on the slide it is generally considered more convenient and efficient to use a hotplate although an oven may be used Use of a surface thermometer will ensure consistent gel and cure times and is recommended in general hot plate controls are too crude to provide reliable information The surface thermometer we sell is moderately priced and of high quality Another way to measure surface temperature is to cement a suitable thermocouple to a glass slide and put the assembly on the hot plate with the thermocouple on top the other end of the thermocouple is attached to a pyrometer The optimum cure temperature for Petropoxy 154 1s 135 C to 140 C This is on an aluminum hotplate using a white paper work surface as measured with our surface thermometer This cure temperature will produce a gel time of from 1 to 2 minutes and a full strength bond in 10 minutes The cure temperature you use may fall somewhat outside this range for the following reasons 1 Surface temperature is a complex quantity and difficult to measu
7. if needed then grind mount and section as per usual Leu and Druckman have developed an alternate procedure not using a block of coherent rock After grinding the encapsulation to expose a suitable cross section mount the encapsulation on the glass slide Cure for 10 minutes or less and then very rapidly transfer this hot assembly to the chuck of the cutoff saw The idea is to cut the encapsulation while hot thereby working around the problem of potentially cracking slides while sawing due to shrinkage of Petropoxy 154 upon cooling Grain mounts of small grains Grain mounts of grains less than about 50u can be made by placing a small amount of Petropoxy 154 on a slide sprinkling the grains onto the Petropoxy 154 and distributing the grains with a disposable applicator Apply a cover glass and cure For grains of more than about 100 microns which will not be ground the thickness of Petropoxy 154 is great enough that the slide may crack upon cooling so use a short cure time Alternatively after the grains are distributed let the mount cure Grind to thickness and apply a cover glass gt Thanks to Mark Druckman and Ron Leu of Sonoma State University for developing this method of encapsulation using Petropoxy 154 The method is similar to that described by Middleton L T and Kraus M J 1980 Simple technique for thin section preparation of unconsolidated materials Jour Sed Petrology v 50 p 622 623 Leu R F and Druckman M M
8. low volatility and toxicity and comprises epoxide compounds that are virtually identical with ones that have been used in industry for many years with no deleterious effects However some persons have skin that is sensitive to epoxide compounds and most persons will become sensitized with sufficient exposure Also it is becoming increasingly recognized that biochemistry and synthetic organic chemistry are inseparable and therefore you should always remain cognizant that there is a possibility for bodily harm whenever you handle any organic chemicals Please read the Material Safety Data Sheets available at our website and follow the general guidelines for good lab hygiene in the next 3 paragraphs No special solvents are needed to clean up uncured Petropoxy 154 Ethanol and isopropanol are inexpensive low toxicity solvents that perform well for general cleanup Avoid contact with your skin When handling Petropoxy 154 use vinyl or latex gloves For Petropoxy 154 in contact with skin use soap and water or mechanics waterless hand cleaners Using alcohol to clean skin is not recommended as the ethanol dries the skin and may act as a vehicle for absorption of Petropoxy 154 As with any organic chemical use ventilation sufficient to avoid prolonged breathing of vapors Page 1 Petropoxy 154 Instructions Rev 01 15 lk U Ri N FH 4 M 5029 W Lodestar Ave Rathdrum ID 83858 USA Toll Free 800 772 3975 afta P Est Ri G
9. messy so wear protective gloves A few rocks contain easily vaporized constituents such as sulfur compounds Try heating these rocks for a few hours or even overnight in an oven at 100 C This will usually drive out the volatiles Impregnation with Petropoxy 154 will usually help solve the problem as will a slightly thicker glue line Alternatively a cold setting mounting medium may be used There are a few minerals for example halite that prevent the cure reaction from occurring For these minerals alternate mounting media must be used Avoiding cracked slides Cracked slides are caused by the contraction of Petropoxy 154 as it cools from the cure temperature to room temperature Because the Petropoxy 154 bond is typically stronger than the sample or the slide this shrinkage can create strains that can crack the slide Figure 3 illustrates how this can occur There are 3 variables which can potentially be adjusted to minimize this problem Figure 3 Because the Petropoxy 154 bond is so strong shrinkage during cure can cause strains note arrows large enough to crack slides For clarity the strain in the figure is exaggerated One remedy is to limit the initial cure to 10 minutes This cure time will produce a full strength bond but the bond is more flexible than for longer cure times One way to keep track of time is to write the minutes of the hour on the paper working surface next to the slide with a pencil Another factor is the te
10. smooth aluminum foil on a 2 x 3 glass slide place this assembly on the hot plate and allow to become hot and dry Apply a bead of Petropoxy 154 along the crack between the pieces With a wooden stick e g tongue depressor on each piece push the pieces together and flat against the foil Hold the pieces in position until the Petropoxy 154 has set about 3 or 4 minutes After about 10 minutes cure and while the section is on the hot plate carefully scrape off the excess Petropoxy 154 with a single edge razor blade If the section is badly broken or if extra strength is desired the above procedure can be modified Place either another slide or a cover glass which is larger than the slide upon which the section is mounted between the bottom of the section slide and the foil This creates a sandwich which will add additional strength After cure the slide or cover glass can be ground to size on a bonded diamond lap CURING AGENT NOTES Both Petropoxy 154 Curing Agent and Resin have shelf lives of several years Keep containers tightly closed The Curing Agent is hygroscopic and will be destroyed if exposed to air for a long period of time It is anormal tendency of Petropoxy 154 Curing Agent to crystallize or solidify especially when stored at temperatures below 22 C 72 F Crystallization is actually an indication of product purity and it is a harmless and reversible physical change not a chemical one This phenomenon doesn t happen a
11. x 46mm slides Using Petropoxy 154 a 24 x 50mm cover glass can be applied After cure the cover glass can be ground to size on a bonded diamond lap During this grinding the cover glass will not come off or crack in the bonded area Removing the cover glass With practice cover glasses can be removed by grinding on laps and glass plates using a slurry of about 12 5y grit in the final stages Three layers are involved the cover glass the layer of Petropoxy 154 and the thin section As grinding proceeds all three layers may be observed by drying the slide and holding it at a low angle between your eye and a light source The layer of Petropoxy 154 will appear smoother and more polished than either the cover glass or the thin section For reapplication of a cover glass it is not necessary to remove the layer of Petropoxy 154 only the cover glass Norland Optical Adhesive 61 Norland Products P O Box 145 North Brunswick NJ 08902 Available from VWR Scientific cat 10805 018 and other distributors Page 6 Petranayy 144 Inctructiane Rew 1 14 IMPREGNATION AND SPECIMEN REPAIR Routine impregnation of blanks impregnation with Petropoxy 154 is so simple quick and effective that many thin section makers prefer to routinely impregnate nearly all their thin section blocks Dry the block in an oven or on a hot plate Place aluminum foil on a piece of paper on the hot plate Apply a generous amount of Petropoxy 154 to the surface to be
12. USER S MANUAL Instructions for using Petropoxy 154 Ss CONTENTS PVP OGU CUO isccccetcantendssdeverderstonieaseas 1 Impregnation and Specimen Repair 7 Health Cautions 1 Sectioning of Loose GrainSs ssseeeeeesse 8 Mixing Petropoxy 154 0 2 Repairing Broken Thin Sections 9 Preparing the Microslides 2 Curing Agent Notes 9 Mounting the Specimen 3 The Refractive Index of Epoxides 10 Applying the Cover Glass 6 Petropoxy 154 Warranty ccccceceeeeeees 10 INTRODUCTION Petropoxy 154 is an epoxide based mounting medium especially developed for use in the preparation of petrographic thin sections The highest levels of research development and technology have been combined to help you achieve maximum quality in your thin sections as well as the maximum in speed efficiency and convenience in section preparation To achieve these objectives please follow the instructions carefully Boron Warning Mixed Petropoxy 154 has a relatively high boron content and should not be used to prepare samples which will be analyzed for boron isotopes Coccolith Warning Reports have been received from two laboratories that Petropoxy 154 will slowly attack coccoliths Therefore it is recommended that this product not be used to mount coccoliths that you wish to save for more than a few months HEALTH CAUTIONS Petropoxy 154 has a very
13. cimen size and shape The first condition can be verified by observing the isoclinic lines One method of precisely determining np of an epoxide is to obtain an unzoned uniaxial mineral for which np Of the epoxide falls between and For an np of 1 54 some nephelines are suitable The mineral is crushed and sieved to obtain an appropriate size fraction for microscopic examination and are then precisely determined using oils and sodium light To prepare a sample of epoxide for np determination place a drop of the epoxide on a slide then mix several tens of the mineral grains into the epoxide apply a cover glass and cure By observing flash figures find a grain in which the c axis is parallel to the stage of the microscope In this case the indicatrix is an ellipse whose semiaxes are e and w Using Na light with the lower polarizer in determine the angle of rotation 0 during which the grain has a higher refractive index than the surrounding epoxide np is then calculated by using the relation 9 gt 1 2 The equation to the right holds for optically negative minerals for np optically positive minerals the positions of w and are exchanged For a complete revolution of 360 will be measured twice it can then be averaged before the calculation Ea sin 9 2 cos 20 2 THE PETROPOXY 154 IRONCLAD GUARANTEE No ifs ands buts or quibbles if you don t like Petropoxy 154 just give us a call an
14. d we ll refund the purchase price plus the return postage within 10 days Of course we d like an explanation but this is not required This is the only warranty applicable to Petropoxy 154 Palouse Petro Products assumes no other obligation or liability in connection with this product Page 10 Petranayw 144 Inctructinne Rew 1 14
15. e cases vacuum impregnation may be of significant value for most cases of routine billet treatment and sectioning there is little to be gained from it The vapor pressure of Petropoxy 154 is about the same as other epoxies boiling at about 65cm of Hg Preventing the specimen from warping Almost all blocks and slabs treated as above can now be sectioned in the normal manner You will find that blanks so treated are almost indestructible and that there will be no plucking during section preparation However if the rock has absorbed so much Petropoxy 154 during impregnation that a large proportion of the specimen is now polymerized Petropoxy 154 then the rock may warp during sectioning especially if the slab is thin This is because polymerized Petropoxy 154 expands when heated from room temperature to the cure temperature and thus a flat surface at room temperature will become convex at the cure temperature This will be manifest as a section with thin edges lost corners and a thick center To work around this problem prepare a block of coherent rock such as a basalt or granite 1 to 2cm thick Grind a flat side on this and on the friable impregnated specimen you wish to section Dry both on the hot plate and adhere the two together using Petropoxy 154 do this on aluminum foil After cure cut the friable rock within 1 to 2mm of the coherent rock Impregnate this surface as needed and section in the usual manner The coherent rock will keep the f
16. e optically compensated for a particular thickness of cover glass commonly 170u At an N A of 0 85 a variance of as little as 10u can noticeably decrease image quality The cover glass thickness is effectively increased by an amount equal to the thickness of the glue line that is the thickness of any medium between the specimen and the cover glass The high viscosity of most cover glass mounting mediums make it difficult or impossible to consistently obtain a sufficiently thin and constant glue line The low viscosity of hot Petropoxy 154 permits the quick and routine formation of a maximum glue line thickness of only 2 54 For an optimum image with an objective of high N A use 1 1 2 cover glasses Petropoxy 154 will dissolve alizarine and so should not be used with this stain a god alternative is Norland Optical Adhesive 61 an adhesive cured with UV light Petropoxy 154 works fine with sodium cobaltinitrite K feldspar stain except that the stain may produce a few tiny bubbles under the cover glass however this is uncommon and the bubbles are generally so small that they are not very objectionable Petropoxy 154 is also compatible with amaranth and the dipotassium derivative of rhodizonic acid plagioclase stains Dispensing Petropoxy 154 If only a few sections are being covered at one time the stirring rod can be used to apply Petropoxy 154 For several sections Petropoxy 154 is conserved and less clean up is required if Petropoxy 154 is d
17. ext grind to the middle of the layer of grains If the grains are small and the layer is only one grain thick use caution and commence grinding on a fine lap Dry on the hot plate and apply a slide being careful not to apply an excess of Petropoxy 154 Second method This method involves first encapsulating the grains or rock chips Place about 5 to 10cc of the grains or rock chips in one of the polypropylene mixing beakers supplied with the Petropoxy 154 kit and dry in an oven at 110 C Strive to obtain a close packing of material While the grains are hot cover them with Petropoxy 154 by slightly tilting the beaker and letting the Petropoxy 154 run down the inside wall of the beaker This procedure will entrap a minimum of air No vacuum treatment is normally necessary Cure in the oven for 30 minutes or until hard Pop the encapsulation from the beaker grind flat through the grains or chips and adhere to a block of coherent rock This step is performed for two reasons First the encapsulation contains enough Petropoxy 154 that a surface ground flat at room temperature will bulge and warp at cure temperature precluding the production of a thin section of even thickness Second the slide may crack upon cooling due to the shrinkage of such a large mass of Petropoxy 154 Next cut the encapsulation within 1 to 2mm of the block The rigidity of the coherent rock block will prevent the encapsulation from warping during sectioning Impregnate again
18. is range Mix thoroughly Using one of the stirring rods provided mix thoroughly for at least one minute taking particular care to frequently scrape the sides and bottom of the beaker with the stirring rod Remember Petropoxy 154 that is not mixed thoroughly will not cure thoroughly The use of paper cups or wooden stirring rods will normally work but is not recommended because fibers from these materials will contaminate your thin sections Pot life Mixed Petropoxy 154 has a useful pot life of about 5 days at 20 C 68 F Covered with foil in the freezer section of a refrigerator the pot life is extended indefinitely For more than two weeks in a refrigerator the beaker should be placed in an airtight jar with a desiccant PREPARING THE MICROSLIDES It is neither necessary or desirable to frost slides For almost all rocks and minerals the Petropoxy 154 bond to unfrosted slides is stronger than either the specimen or the slide On a microscopic scale frosting produces a myriad of tiny randomly oriented surfaces which refract transmitted light This refraction is especially noticeable at high contrast as for example when observing the Becke line Thin sections made on unfrosted slides are a joy to use as the quality of the transmitted light is not deteriorated by refraction due to frosting Slides must be clean and free of any film As they come from the box slides are usually sufficiently clean Keep them covered If the slides are
19. ispensed using one of the syringes provided Fill the syringe and dispense about 0 03 to 0 04ml onto the hot dry thin section while the section is on the hot plate Apply the cover glass and gently work out all bubbles and excess Petropoxy 154 Ideal for this purpose are disposable wooden applicator sticks 6 long x 0 08 diameter They are inexpensive so throw them away as them come into contact with Petropoxy 154 This will avoid smearing the next cover glass with Petropoxy 154 Final cleaning Remove excess Petropoxy 154 with a single edge razor blade This is most easily done while the thin section is on the hot plate and about 4 to 10 minutes after application After cure and cooling clean off any smears or thin films by rubbing vigorously with a rag and alcohol Stopping the cure If a problem arises after Petropoxy 154 has been applied to the hot thin section and it appears that the Petropoxy 154 will gel before cover glass application an be completed stop the cure reaction by immediately removing the slide from the hot plate and placing it on a piece of room temperature metal If necessary the section can be cleaned with alcohol and the cover glass application process repeated Oversize cover glass If the thin section is larger than the largest available cover glass for the slide the use of Petropoxy 154 allows the use of a cover glass larger than the slide For example 24 x 40mm is the largest standard cover glass available for 26
20. ll the time and doesn t happen with any degree of predictability It is not uncommon for random containers of Curing Agent from the same batch subjected to identical conditions during manufacture to become semi solid while others remain liquid Storing the Curing Agent between 24 C and 32 C 75 F 90 F may help prevent it from solidifying but if you find your Curing Agent has thickened or there is what appears to be a sludge in the bottom of the container simply heat and stir to return it to a clear homogeneous liquid This heating and re homogenization will not affect the quality of the Curing Agent whatsoever The quickest way to heat Curing Agent is in a microwave oven with the lid on However Curing Agent is very absorptive of microwaves so be very conservative Start by heating for only a few seconds Remove from the oven and stir in a well ventilated area If it is not warm or does not completely re dissolve heat a few more seconds Repeat as necessary The Curing Agent can get very hot without harm the temperature is really limited by the possible melting of the polypropylene container Allow heated Curing Agent to cool before use If a microwave is not available heat in an oven for a few minutes at up to 100 C stirring intermittently If properly performing the above procedure fails to restore the Curing Agent we will gladly replace it at our expense Page 9 Petropoxy 154 Instructions Rev 01 15 5029 W Lodestar
21. ndency to use too much Petropoxy 154 If too much is used too large an excess of Petropoxy 154 will form around the specimen and shrinkage during cooling can crack the slide If you apply too much transfer the excess to the edge of a disposable absorbent tissue paper towel Since the amount of cooling related shrinkage is proportional to temperature try lowering the cure temperature Maximum bond strength is being attained at this lower temperature if when cooled after 10 minutes cure you can barely dent the excess around the specimen with the corner of a single edge razor blade If you crack a slide all is not lost refer to the section on repairing cracked thin sections on Page 9 Page 5 Petropoxy 154 Instructions Rev 01 15 5029 W Lodestar Ave Rathdrum ID 83858 USA Toll Free 800 772 3975 Phone 208 687 5951 Fax 208 687 0232 artisans burnhampetrographics com AAAA AASA hiirnhamnatranranhina nam APPLYING THE COVER GLASS Advantages of Petropoxy 154 Because of its low viscosity and long pot life applying cover glasses with Petropoxy 154 is faster easier and simpler than with any other medium There are no solvents to vaporize and there are no by products of the cure reaction Therefore no bubbles will form under the cover glass during cure provided the sections are dry In addition Petropoxy 154 will give substantially better images at higher powers Most objectives with a numerical aperture greater than 0 3 ar
22. re Different methods of measuring surface temperature and even different thermometers will produce varying results 2 Gel time is to some extent a matter of personal preference 3 Gel time to some extent varies according to curing agent batch Too high a cure temperature may result in cracked slides page 5 production of excessive vapors degradation of optical and physical properties and too fast a cure for convenient handling Too low a cure temperature will result in cure times which are impractical and the highest bond strength may not be realized Figure 1 illustrates gel time as a function of temperature The graph is for relative comparisons only and probably will not exactly correspond to your experience G 12 E L 10 574 00 Figure 1 m 20ta ee 110 120 130 140 150 160 HOT PLATE TEMPERATURE C The final refractive index is to a small degree dependent on cure temperature Each batch of Petropoxy 154 is formulated to have an np of 1 540 0 001 at 140 C However the refractive index coefficient for temperature dnp C is 0 00014 For example curing at 145 C will lower the final refractive index by 0 0007 Page 3 Petropoxy 154 Instructions Rev 01 15 5029 W Lodestar Ave Rathdrum ID 83858 USA Toll Free 800 772 3975 Phone 208 687 5951 Fax 208 687 0232 artisans burnhampetrographics com www hurnhamnetraocranhice cam Cure time Curing Petropoxy 154 at 135 C will produce a high s
23. riable rock from warping If the specimen contains abundant clays or other water reactive minerals grind in a slurry of low viscosity oil and clean with alcohol Page 7 Petropoxy 154 Instructions Rev 01 15 5029 W Lodestar Ave Rathdrum ID 83858 USA Toll Free 800 772 3975 Phone 208 687 5951 Fax 208 687 0232 artisans burnhampetrographics com www hurnhamnetraocranhice cam SECTIONING OF LOOSE GRAINS AND CHIPS Two methods are given below for sectioning loose grains well cutting chips etc The first method is somewhat faster and simpler and it is particularly preferred if only a few grains are available for sectioning or if the grains are more than 1cm in size The second method provides a denser packing in the thin section for smaller grains and is better if the grains in the sample vary widely in size Both methods require a block of coherent rock such as a basalt or granite about to 2cm thick and ground flat on one side First method Place the coherent rock block with flat side up on aluminum foil over paper on the hot plate and allow to dry Spread a generous amount of Petropoxy 154 on the block Spread the grains on the block and distribute them evenly with a toothpick or other disposable applicator Let cure on the hot plate with grains facing up If several large grains are to be sectioned grind a flat side on each grain and then arrange a close packing of these on the block Then apply Petropoxy 154 N
24. sectioned and then put this surface face down on the foil to cure Depending on porosity and permeability the specimen may accept additional Petropoxy 154 apply around the edge of the block as needed The foil can easily be removed immediately after gelation or after the cure is complete and the block has cooled Removal is more difficult after cure completion and while the block is still hot Treatment of slabs and broken blanks If the specimen is coherent enough to withstand slabbing but not trimming to blank size dry the slab on the hot plate on aluminum foil over paper Coat one or both sides as needed with Petropoxy 154 until no more is absorbed and leave to cure To repair blanks that have broken during preparatory sawing dry the pieces and then fit them together on the aluminum foil Let Petropoxy 154 flow from the applicator rod into the cracks until the cracks remain full Impregnation of entire hand samples If the rock is so friable that impregnation is needed before slabbing or cutting the thin section block dry the specimen in an oven for up to several hours at 100 C With the rock out of the oven support it on two or three layers of aluminum foil and coat with Petropoxy 154 until no more is absorbed or until enough is absorbed to permit slabbing Place the rock with foil in the oven and cure Vacuum impregnation Hot Petropoxy 154 is an excellent impregnating medium due to its low viscosity and excellent wetting Although in som
25. trength bond in as little as 5 minutes and maximum strength is attained in about 10 minutes However the refractive index is finalized only after curing for about 45 minutes Figure 2 illustrates the change in np as a function of cure time After 3 hours cure np will completely stabilize at about 0 0004 below that obtained for 45 minutes cure 1 550 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 CURE TIME minutes Figure 2 np of Petropoxy 154 as a function of cure time at 135 C If an np of 1 54 is desired and if as recommended Petropoxy 154 is also being used for cover glass application it is not necessary when mounting the specimen to cure for 45 minutes because final cure can be obtained during the cure of the Petropoxy 154 used for cover glass application Mounting For a working surface on the hot plate try white photocopy paper It will absorb excess Petropoxy 154 and provides a good visual background Preheat the specimen on the hot plate to assure that it is dry To mount the sample turn it so that the flat side is up Apply a small amount of Petropoxy 154 to the sample with one of the stirring and applicator rods and then apply a clean slide With wooden sticks e g tongue depressors gently work out any bubbles and excess Petropoxy 154 A well positioned work light is essential for seeing smaller bubbles The best bond is obtained when the specimen is not quite scraping against the slide Using protective gloves turn the assembly over
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