Patent ID: 6241929
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: B29C,Y02P

Abstract:
An apparatus for heating a working material comprising:a) a pair of electrodes having a source of radio frequency energy coupled thereto for creating a radio frequency field therebetween; andb) a mold positioned between said electrodes; said mold formed of a mold material and having an inner surface defining a mold cavity; said mold adapted for receiving the working material in said mold cavity; said mold material selected to have a dielectric constant approximately equal to a dielectric constant of the working material and a parameter of thermosensitivity to an RF field approximately equal to a parameter of thermosensitivity to an RF field of the working material, such that application of said radio frequency field across said electrodes results in relatively uniform heating of the working material to a selected temperature; wherein the parameter of thermosensitivity to an RP field of a material is equal to the tangent of the loss angle of the material divided by the product of its density and specific heat.