In terms of structural design, the metallographic soft rubber mold with a specification of 25mm inner diameter × 20mm height features precise geometric parameters.
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The 25mm inner diameter, verified repeatedly, can meet the inlay needs of most small and medium-sized metal samples. Whether the sample is rod-shaped, sheet-shaped or irregularly shaped, it can be stably positioned inside the mold.
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The 20mm height takes into account the thickness requirement for sample inlay: it not only ensures the structural stability of the sample during subsequent grinding and polishing processes, but also avoids excessive consumption of soft rubber materials, achieving a balance between practicality and economy.
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The inner wall of the mold is precision-polished, with surface roughness controlled at an extremely low level. This ensures that the soft rubber can be completely demolded after forming, preventing scratches or damage on the sample surface.
Material selection is the core guarantee for the performance of metallographic soft rubber molds.
Such molds are usually made of high-strength silicone rubber or polyurethane elastomer materials, which possess excellent elasticity and temperature resistance. They can maintain stable performance within the temperature range of -50℃ to 200℃, fully meeting the heating and curing requirements in the metallographic inlay process.
Silicone rubber has extremely high chemical stability and will not react with chemical substances such as inlay resins and curing agents, ensuring that the sample is not contaminated during the inlay process. Meanwhile, the high elasticity of the soft rubber material endows the mold with excellent fatigue resistance. After hundreds or even thousands of uses, it can still maintain its original dimensional accuracy and structural integrity, greatly extending the service life of the mold.
In terms of manufacturing process, the production of this specification of mold reflects the rigor of precision manufacturing.
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The mold is formed by injection molding or compression molding processes. Through high-precision mold cavities, the dimensional tolerance of the product is controlled within ±0.1mm, ensuring the consistency of each batch of molds.
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After forming, the mold also undergoes strict post-treatment processes such as degreasing and vulcanization to remove residual impurities and internal stress in the material, further improving the stability and durability of the mold.
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For key parts such as the inner wall, some high-end products will undergo secondary processing using laser engraving or precision grinding processes to ensure that the surface smoothness and dimensional accuracy meet the strict requirements of metallographic analysis.
In practical application, the metallographic soft rubber mold (25mm inner diameter × 20mm height) demonstrates significant operational advantages.
During sample inlay, operators only need to place the pre-treated metal sample into the mold cavity, pour the prepared inlay resin, and after heating or room-temperature curing, they can easily demold to obtain a complete inlaid sample. The elastic property of the soft rubber mold eliminates the need for complex tools during demolding; gently squeezing the side wall of the mold can separate the sample from the mold, effectively avoiding sample damage that may occur during hard mold demolding.
This convenience not only improves the efficiency of sample preparation, but also reduces the work intensity of operators, making it particularly suitable for batch sample processing scenarios.
Maintenance is crucial for extending the service life of the mold.
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After each use, the residual resin on the inner wall of the mold should be cleaned in a timely manner. A soft cloth dipped in alcohol or a special cleaning agent can be used for gentle wiping, and hard objects should be avoided to scratch the inner wall.
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When the mold is not in use for a long time, it should be stored in a dry and ventilated environment, avoiding direct sunlight and high-temperature baking to prevent material aging.
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If cracks, deformation, dimensional deviation or other problems are found on the mold surface, the mold should be replaced with a new one in a timely manner to ensure that the quality of sample inlay is not affected.
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Regular calibration and testing of the mold dimensions is also an important measure to ensure long-term use accuracy.
This specification of metallographic soft rubber mold is widely used in material analysis laboratories in fields such as machinery manufacturing, automotive industry, and aerospace. In the quality inspection of metal materials, samples inlaid by this mold can accurately present the microstructural characteristics of the material, providing a reliable sample basis for grain size determination, phase composition analysis, defect detection, and other tasks. Its stable performance and convenient operation make it an indispensable basic tool in metallographic analysis work, providing strong support for material science research and industrial quality control.
