Preparation of Polymer Films from the Melt

Thin polymer films are very suitable for a number of physical investigations (microscopy, spectroscopy, mechanical measurements). They can be prepared in the laboratory as follows A certain amount of finely powdered polymer is spread on 

If a suitable press is not available, one may improvise as follows The heating plates of two electric irons are first bored to accept a thermocouple and then connected in parallel to the power supply through a variable transformer. A calibration curve is determined for the temperature attained at different voltages. For the preparation of a film the finely powdered polymer is placed, as described above, between the two hot-plates, which are then pressed together horizontally in a suitable vice. In this arrangement the pressure cannot be measured, but with a little skill the optimum conditions can be found. 

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