Testing and results

Results summary

Ideally, the resins should have a low viscosity, set quickly, set hard, be compatible at high vacuum and contain no element that will compromise the SIMS chemical or isotopic analysis. In addition, it should be suitable for petrological study, imaging (e.g. cathodoluminescence (CL), backscatter electron (BSE)) and electron micro-probe analysis (EPMA). No resin meets all these requirements.

Viscosity	5 Stars for the viscosity closest to water	Image
Hardness	5 Stars for the resin closest to the hardness of common rock forming minerals	Image
Cure time	5 Stars for shortest cure time	Image
Composition	5 Stars for the cleanest composition that would not compromise a SIMS analysis	Image
Cathodoluminescence	5 Stars for the lowest luminescence	Image
e-beam damage	5 Stars for the most robust resin to e-beam bombardment	Image
Bonding, gap and relief	5 Stars for the best bonding, smallest gap and minimal polishing induced relief	Image

The table below presents a star rating, culminating in an Engwell score. Clearly, some materials or analyses may put a different importance on any of the properties.

Epoxy Resin	Viscosity	Vacuum Test	Hardness	Cure Time	Composition	Bonding	Gap	Relief	'Luminescence	e-beam Damage	Engwell Score
EpoThin	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	32
EpoHeat	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	34
EpoxiCure (Cured at Room Temperature)	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	40
EpoxiCure (Cured at 65oC)	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	33
TransOptic	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Not Tested	Image
ProbeMet	Image	Image	Not Tested	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Not Tested	Not Tested
KonductoMet	Image	Image	Not Tested	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Not Tested	Not Tested
SpeciFix-20	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	36.5
EpoFix	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	Image	36
Ciba Geigy MY778 & HY951		Image	Image	Image	Image			Image	Image		38
Robnor Resins PX771c		Image	Image	Image	Image			Image	Image	Image	28
Korapox 439	Image		Image	Image			Image	Image	Image	Image	24.5
Domestic Rapid Set Araldite	Image	Not Tested	Image		Image	Not Tested	Not Tested	Not Tested	Not Tested	Not Tested
Domestic Araldite	Image	Not Tested	Image	Image	Image	Not Tested	Not Tested	Not Tested	Not Tested	Not Tested
Varian Torr Seal	Image	Not Tested	Not Tested	Image	Image	Not Tested	Not Tested	Not Tested	Not Tested	Not Tested
Petropoxy	Image	Image			Image	Image				Image	29

Comments

• The facility recommends the use of EpoxiCure, SpeciFix-20 or EpoFix for SIMS analysis, although other resins should be considered for specific requirements such as low viscosity.
• Transoptic shatters samples during the pressure/heating procedure and we wonder why it is suggested for delicate samples. It produces a network of gaps in contact with the sample and the surfaces of the pressure vessel. Its pump-down time is long and blisters badly under electron beam impact.
• Konductomet also fractures samples during the pressure/heating procedure.
• Rapid-set araldite has a high viscosity and contains C, O, Al and Cl as well as sulphur.