Plastination with silicone method S 10--monitoring and analysis causes of failure.

Plastination is in some cases unsuccessful. The goal of this work was to monitor, to describe and to analyse the reasons of S10 plastination method failure. We prepared the silicone-impregnated specimens using the standard silicone method S 10. The causes of bad preparation are numerous. Usual defects produced during plastination process are the changes in the bulk, the changes in the colour and other visible defects (e.g. deformations, spots on the organs surface). The frequent reasons for these defects are: unsuitable temperature, using of old bad fixed formaldehyde specimens and too long gas-curing procedure. The knowledge of reasons of unsuccessful plastination is important condition for achievement the good results.