What is VCM?
More than three letters.
VCM (Vacuum Compression Molding) allows the mg-to-g scale screening of new formulations for hot-melt extrusion. VCM is a process that transforms thermoplastic materials into homogeneous specimens without altering the source materials’ characteristics due to degradation.
VCM Tool
Perfect samples
Powder
or extrudates, flakes etc.
Pellets
or powder etc.
How does it work?
In three steps.
The desired amount of materials is filled into the VCM Tool. Vacuum is applied, compacting the powder as well as preventing bubbles.
Step 1 : Vacuum Compaction
Rapid melting is achieved by heating the VCM Tool on a preheated hot plate. Particles fuse together to create a homogenous melt.
Step 2 : Melting
Perfect samples
Rapid cooling of the
VCM Tool is obtained by convection and conduction
on a separate cooling unit solidifying the sample.
Step 3 : Cooling
What are the innovations?
Simplicity at its best.
The VCM sample chamber is fully PTFE-lined and yet adaptable in volume. Thanks to the arrangement of the foils two key innovations are guaranteed. #1 adaptable sample chamber: It follows the natural material behavior during sample preparation. Density changes during compaction, melting and solidifying are compensated and defined sample geometries are obtained.
Powder
or flakes etc.
Movable
piston
Insights
Compaction pressure
(vacuum)
Geometrically defined sample,
no voids or bubbles
Key innovation #1: Adaptable sample chamber
Key innovation #2: Peelable sample chamber
VCM
Insert
#2 peelable sample chamber: The separation foils are simply peeled off after the preparation process. No tedious cleaning is required. The chamber has no dead zones enabling lossless sample preparation. After the insertion of new foils the equipment is ready for the next preparation cycle. The foils can be reused multiple times making the process even more cost efficient.
How much material do I need?
Just enough to shape your sample.
Input
Output
The VCM Process holds the balance between input and output material. It’s the first lossless approach to melt samples into a defined shape, without air inclusions. With 1 gram of powder, you will obtain a cylindrical sample of 1 gram with a defined shape.
Ø 2 mm
up to 10 mm length
1 - 50 mg required
We understand that for some applications 1 gram might already be a very high quantity. That’s why we have downsized our VCM Technology to dimensions as small as 2 mm in diameter. 2 mm rods can be produced with heights of 0.1 mm and 10 mm enabling screenings, accurate material characterization -starting at the low mg-range.
Who are our customers?
Innovators.
Check out our testimonial page and see yourself what our customers say about our technology.
Do you prefer a video?
Just one click.
What are the benefits?
Shortcuts.
The key innovations change the rules. New possibilities simplify daily lab routines and open up new doors in development. Improved sample quality may reveal new insights into material characteristics. The shortcuts allow you to concentrate on more important tasks.
Rapid & straightforward process
Co-extrusion die
Conventional
The VCM process can be used to combine serveral VCM samples to one merged multilayer sample easily. Multilayer structures result in different functional benefits (e.g. diffusion barrier).
Material A
Conventional
Tedious
trial-and-error
based approach
The process is robust and easy to operate. The temperature is the key process parameter. A sample is usually produced in less than 10 minutes without tedious process development.
Multilayered structures prototyping
Material B
Conventional
Co-extruded strand
Minimal cleaning effort
Lossless sample preparation
The VCM Tool is the first device to enable lossless sample preparation. Thanks to the thoughtful design of the sample chamber there are no dead zones.
Air inclusions are prevented using vacuum during the entire sample preparation process. Even micronized powders melt homogeneously to form solid specimens with defined geometries.
Homogeneous with defined geometry
Conventional
Shapeless
Bubbles
Input
Output
The separation foils form the sample chamber. Replacing the foils saves you valuable development time as cleaning is reduced to a minimum.
Conventional
