Abstract:
There is provided an apparatus for molding a thermoplastic material into a homogenous sample body having a predetermined shape, the apparatus comprising: (a) a main body (110) comprising a first opening (112), a second opening and a hollow bore (116) connecting the first opening (112) with the second opening, the hollow bore (116) being adapted to receive a separation foil shaped to cover at least a part of the hollow bore surface; (b) a piston (120) adapted to fit moveably into the hollow bore (116) containing the separation foil; (c) a base plate (130) comprising a protrusion, wherein the base plate (130) is adapted to be inserted into the first opening (112) in such a manner that the protrusion extends into a part of the hollow bore (116) containing the separation foil, and wherein the base plate (130) is adapted to transfer heat from a heating unit to a thermoplastic material (150) resting on the protrusion (132); (d) a vacuum connector (142) adapted to be connected to a vacuum source; (e) a lid (140) adapted to fit moveably into the second opening and adapted to apply a force to the piston (120) when the vacuum connector (142) is connected to the vacuum source such that the piston (120) applies a compressing force to the thermoplastic material (150) resting on the protrusion. There are further provided a method and a system for molding a thermoplastic material into a homogenous sample body having a predetermined shape.
Abstract:
An apparatus (100) for manufacturing particles, wherein the apparatus (100) comprises a supply unit (102) adapted for supplying a viscous raw material, a perforated body (104) having a plurality of perforations (106) and arranged to receive the viscous raw material from the supply unit (102) to flow through the plurality of perforations (106), and a cutter (108) arranged so that the viscous raw material flowing out of the plurality of perforations (106) is cut into the particles by the cutter (108), wherein the apparatus (100) is configured so that, during manufacturing the particles, a temperature of at least a portion of the perforated body (104) is lower than a temperature of the viscous raw material flowing through the plurality of perforations (106), wherein the perforated body (104) and the cutter (108) are arranged relative to one another such that the cutter (108) is cooled by thermal exchange with the perforated body (104) during operation of the apparatus (100).