Table 7.2. Directions For Preparing Simulated Muscle Material
For 200-2450 MHz (Guy, 1971a; Chou et al., 1984)
  1. Weigh all ingredients and determine percentages by weight.

  2. Mix ingredients except TX-150 in 14-20°C water with a 4-in. shear stirrer rotating at 450 rpm on a variable-speed drill press until all polyethylene powder is wet. Add one drop of household liquid detergent to help wet the polyethylene powder.

  3. Add TX-150 and increase drill press speed to 1200 rpm.

  4. Mix for about 45-120 s. When the mixture becomes thick, slow the drill press to about 800 rpm to avoid generating air bubbles. Since the setting time of TX-150 varies with factory batch, proper water temperature and mixing time must be determined by experience. If stirred too long, the mixture will become too hard to pour; if not stirred enough, the polyethylene powder will float.

  5. Pour the mixture into the mold, slowly, to allow air bubbles to escape from the mixture.