In-situ modelling of pore structure of sensitive porous materials - by filling pores with acrylic] resin which is pourable and UV-curable at low temp. and removing the original sample to leave the model

摘要

Cast plastic model (I) reproduces the permeable pore structure of a porous sample material (II) in a frozen state with very high mechanical stability. The model consists of a 3-dimensional casting which is a true copy of the original, made of a plastic material which can be poured and hardened at low temp. without affecting the pore structure of the sample. Also claimed is a process for producing (I), by freezing and cleaning the sample, mounting in a treatment vessel, cooling the plastic and pouring it over the sample, evacuating the vessel, curing with UV radiation, removing the sample material and drying the residual casting. Pref. The stages from cooling to curing are carried out at -12 deg.C. Material is water-soluble, pref. a mixt. of destabilised 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and 0.5 vol.% triethylene glycol dimethacrylate contg. 1 wt.% benzoyl peroxide. Material can act as a colour filter. The entire surface of model (I) can be metal coated, and the model can be embedded in a fixing material which is fully transparent or which acts as a colour filter. USE/ADVANTAGE - Enables the internal pore structure of porous materials to be reproduced in a stable form, e.g. for studying the structure of sea ice from polar regions, etcta