Acrylic Mounting Systems
Increase your Mounting Throughput
Acrylic Mounting
The ideal solution for simple geometry specimens that are sensitive to high pressures and temperatures. With cure times as low as 5 minutes, Buehler’s range of acrylic systems increase throughput in your mounting process while providing the reliable results you need for a consistent process.
Fast Cure Times and Easy to Mix Ratios
Buehler’s acrylic media offers both fast cure times and easy to mix powder to liquid ratios, making it the preferred castable system in labs.SamplKwick®
Our best-selling SamplKwick acrylic helps you speed up your mounting process by providing incredibly quick and consistent mounting results. This easy to use acrylic mounting compound offers good penetration and edge retention needed for great electronics applications and more.
In additition to its great castable mounting performance, SamplKwick does not exhibit the offensive odor of many acrylics on the market, making it a perfect choice for the technician.
In additition to its great castable mounting performance, SamplKwick does not exhibit the offensive odor of many acrylics on the market, making it a perfect choice for the technician.
VariKleer™
VariKleer produces a crystal clear mount when cured under pressure making it ideal for applications where clarity is required.
VariDur™ 10
VariDur 10 is a general purpose acrylic system offering a semi-transparent mount with a reduced odor while curing.
VariDur™ 200
VariDur 200 is a quick curing acrylic with good edge retention that is ideal for mounting hard materials.
VariDur™ 3003
VariDur 3003 is a three-part acrylic with minimal shrinkage and high hardness retention applications.
How to Choose The Right Acrylic Compound
Buehler offers a variety of acrylics mounting media options to meet your needs for throughput, hardness, edge retention, and more. Follow the selection guide below to identify the best choice for your specific application.
Material | Properties | Cure Time | Peak Exotherm | Shore D | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
General Purpose | SamplKwick | Go-to choice for general purpose applications. Does not exhibit an offensive odor of many acrylics on the market. | 5-8 min @ room temp | 178°F [81°C] | 85 |
VariDur 10 | Offers a semi-transparent mount with a reduced odor while curing. | 8 min @ room temp | 212°F [100°C] | 80 | |
Specialty | VariKleer | Produces a crystal clear mount when cured under pressure (typically 2 bar). | 5-15 min @ room temp | 212°F [100°C] | 84 |
VariDur 200 | Quick curing acrylic with good edge retention ideal for mounting hard materials. | 5-8 min @ room temp | 212°F [100°C] | 85 | |
VariDur 3003 | Three-part acrylic with minimal shrinkage and high hardness, making it ideal for edge retention applications. Its chemical resistance resists against the attack of acidic and caustic solutions, which could impair viewing of the sample surface. | 15-30 min @ room temp | 252°F [122°C] | 90 |
Selection Guide Notes | |||
---|---|---|---|
Values are compared to other Buehler medias and based on a one to three scale. Best values are ranked as a value of three. | |||
Edge Retention | Viscocity / Infiltration | Shrinking | Recommended Use |
Ideal for electronic applications. | |||
Ideal for general use applications. | |||
Useful for acrylic applications where clarity is required. | |||
Good for harder materials, and for color contrast at edges and cracks. | |||
Best for hard materials where edge examination is critical. |
Ordering
Acrylic Mounting Systems | ||
---|---|---|
SamplKwick | ||
Component | Part Number | Size |
Powder | 20-3562 | 1lb [0.45kg] |
Powder | 20-3566 | 5lb [2.3kg] |
Powder | 20-3562-025 | 25lb [11.3kg] |
Powder | 20-3562-100 | 100lb [45kg] |
Liquid | 20-3564 | 12oz [0.36L] |
Liquid | 20-3568 | 64oz [1.9L] |
Liquid | 20-3564-320 | 2.5gal [9.5L] |
Liquid | 20-3564-640 | 5gal [19L] |
Kit | 20-3560 |
Powder: 1lb [0.45kg] Liquid: 12oz [0.36L] |
Acrylic Mounting Systems | ||
---|---|---|
VariKleer | ||
Component | Part Number | Size |
Powder | 20-3591 | 2.2lb [1kg] |
Powder | 20-3591-002 | 4.4lb [2kg] |
Powder | 20-3591-010 | 22lb [10kg] |
Liquid | 20-3592 | 16.9oz [0.5L] |
Liquid | 20-3592-001 | 33.8oz [1L] |
Liquid | 20-3592-005 | 1.3gal [5L] |
Acrylic Mounting Tips and Tricks
- Acrylics cure quickly so it is highly recommended to pour the mixture into the mold immediately after mixing to prevent “gelling”.
- Acrylic systems are not suitable for use with vacuum systems, nor are they for use with disposable mounting cups because the heat of the reaction will soften and deform the plastic cup.
- To improve edge retention for acrylic systems and encourage wicking into small gaps, coat the sample in the liquid hardener prior to mounting.
- Acrylic systems are sensitive to shelf life, which depends on proper storage. Keep out of excessive high or low temps and extreme humidity. It is good practice to date your containers when received.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do you recommend castable mounting systems over compression mounting systems?
Castable mounting systems are recommended for mounting specimens that are sensitive to heat and/or pressure. Learn more about how to choose the right mounting media for your needs.
When would someone prefer Acrylics Mounting Systems over Epoxy Systems?
Do I need to use a vacuum system with Acrylic Systems?
Acrylic Systems are not suitable for use with vacuum systems.
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