PDMS Tutorial

Recipe:
PDMS: 1.5g of Curing Agent, 15g of Base. (For typical PPC slides this is 1.5g Curing Agent, 15g Base split between 2 plastic petri dishes.)

Materials:
Plastic Cup
2x 4 inch plastic petri dishes
Mixer
Weight Measuring Scale next to furnace near the developer fumehood
Nalgene Vacuum Chamber
Precision Oven @ Hone lab
The Corning SYLGARD 184 Kit - containing a Curing Agent (Black Cap) and Base (White Tub)

Important:
Wear gloves for pouring and mixing;
Always keep the mixer clean, change into clean gloves before using it, and clean up after use;
Keep the levelers where they belong to;
Keep the thermometer off after checking the temperature;
Do not change the temperature of the furnace.

Procedure:
1. Prepare containers - rinse with IPA & blow clean;
2. Zero out scale with plastic cup and pour 15g of Base and 1.5g of Curing Agent;
3. Change gloves so that the mixer doesn't get too dirty;
4. Wipe mixer with IPA if it is dirty;
5. Turn mixer on to the lowest setting and mix for 10mins, make sure not to hit the plastic cup while mixing;
6. Pour mixture into 2 petri dishes as evenly as possible;
7. Vent vacuum chamber, place petri dishes in and level them with glass slides and leveler, pump down and wait for 2hrs;
8. Wipe mixer with IPA;
9. Vent vacuum chamber, take out petri dishes, and pump down again;
10. Check temperature of furnace (60℃), keep thermometer turned off after checking;
11. Place petri dishes in the furnace and level them with glass slides and leveler, and close the door gently;
12. Let the PDMS harden for 24hrs (or any span of time in your own preference) before using.

Purchasing:
SYLGARD® 184 Silicone Elastomer Kit [Dow Corning 3097358-1004]