User Manual
38
Note 3: Tips on Pressing
Warning:
SAMPLES MUST NOT BE PRESSED IN THE
ATLAS™ HIGH TEMPERATURE FILM MAKER
ACCESSORY WHEN IT IS COLD.
Polymeric samples in bead form may require pre-crushing while cold
so that the Top Half Assembly may be mounted more easily for the
Sampling Position
when a foil disc/sample/foil disc “sandwich” has
been positioned into the Lower Half Assembly. (See page 28,
Fig 17.)
Pre-crushing can be done in a Specac Press itself (without the Atlas™
High Temperature Film Maker Accessory in position) using a 13mm
diameter evacuable pellet die P/N GS03000.
Some experiments will be required to determine the
optimum
amount
of sample to load for any given thickness of film to produce from the
spacer ring (
18
) chosen. If an insufficient amount of sample is used,
the melted sample when pressed will not completely cover the polished
surfaces (
13
) and (
14
) and the produced film will be too thin and
probably wedge-shaped. If the pressed 29mm diameter film does
completely cover the polished surface areas, the central 15mm
diameter area will give the required thickness. This thickness should
be measured and the pressing cycle procedure can be calibrated
accordingly for a particular correct amount of sample required to obtain
a particular thickness of film. If too much sample is loaded, although
the 29mm diameter film produced may provide a consistent thickness
for the sample over the inner 15mm diameter area, a thick rim may be
obtained on the film which may make mounting of the film difficult or
cause the spacer ring (
18
) to stick to the assembly of components.
Note:
An optimum amount of sample to press for the particular
thickness of film required is key to thin film reproducibility.
Careful monitoring of the temperature will be required for samples (e.g.
Nylon) which oxidize at temperatures slightly above the softening
temperature. If the temperature of the High Temperature Film Maker
Accessory is raised slowly, a Nylon bead within the Film Maker
Accessory can be tested for softening by “feeling” through the handle
of the lead screw (
9
) and top polished pressing surface (
13
) when
Summary of Contents for Atlas GS15800
Page 1: ...Atlas High Temperature Film Maker Accessory User Manual 2I 15800 Issue 15...
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Page 45: ...Atlas High Temperature Film Maker Accessory 43...
Page 46: ...User Manual 44 Notes for Use of Atlas High Temperature Film Maker Accessory...