Abstract: EPOFIX AND VACUUM: AN EASY METHOD TO MAKE CASTS OF HARD SUBSTRATES

EPOFIX AND VACUUM: AN EASY METHOD TO MAKE CASTS OF HARD SUBSTRATES

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ABSTRACT

An effective and fast procedure is presented for making transparent casts of hard substrates such as bones, rock, shells, and wood. The procedure is based on a two-component epoxy (Epofix) that is especially suitable for cold mounting, avoiding heat, and limiting pressure impregnation that might damage fragile substrates. Critical to successful casting is the use of a vacuum chamber or a vacuum desiccator during early hardening to eliminate air bubbles. The vacuum is interrupted and turned on again to force air out and epoxy into blind-ending cavities; this action may be repeated. Afterward, the hardening takes place at atmospheric pressure. Unlike other embedding procedures, neither infiltration phases nor acetone "boiling" are necessary to produce detailed casts that are suitable for studies at micron scale and for long-term use.

Jan Kresten Nielsen. Geological Museum, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark.
Jesper Maiboe. Geological Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark.

KEY WORDS: epoxy, bioerosion, shell structures, molluscs