HEATED-SHEET CHARACTERIZATION
See how a heated polymer sheet stretches before committing to the next processing step.
CosTech is a compact benchtop instrument concept that shows how heated polymer sheets stretch during inflation. It complements standard lab tests with a direct look at deformation relevant to thermoforming, helping researchers assess manufacturability before prototyping and processing.
01 / INSTRUMENT & WORKFLOW
A closer look before processing
Drag or swipe to rotate · Full 360°
Where CosTech fits in polymer development
- 01
Develop material
Example · benchtop mixer
- 02
Prepare and characterize sheet
Examples · hot press, tensile tester
- 03
Measure heated-sheet deformation
CosTech Inflation Rheometer
- 04
Prototype and process
Example · pilot thermoformer
- 05
Scale manufacturing
Example · production forming line
CosTech adds a heated-sheet measurement between standard characterization and downstream processing, helping researchers investigate how much room they have to vary forming conditions before committing to a prototype or manufacturing trial.
02 / RECORDED MEASUREMENT
Would this sheet advance to the next processing step?
Replay a PLA4043 test, then inspect the recorded curves and summary values. Where could heated-sheet deformation data inform your processability decision and support your broader manufacturability goals?
CosTech
Version 5 · Recorded-run demo
Loading PLA4043 recording…- 01 Setup
- 02 Load sample
- 03 Playback
- 04 Results
Configure the recorded test
Temperature and input pressure are populated from the recording.
Load the circular sheet
Place the sample on the circular fixture.
Dome height follows the exported height values.
Recorded run · about 2 minutes
Playback begins at 1×. Switch to 4×, seek to a recorded moment, or skip to the results.
Recorded results
PLA4043 · June 30, 2026 · 70 °C · 10 psi input · 20 mil
Inspect a recorded point by hovering or tapping the chart. Keyboard users can focus the plot and use arrow keys. Bubble-pressure units remain unspecified.
The Forming Index is reported viscosity divided by reported modulus. The reported index values are reproduced as exported. These are two separate software-reported analyses. Evaluating a usable processing window requires measurements across conditions and a defined forming outcome.