Patent ID: 11407147

Abstract:
In various embodiments, a vapor condensation thermoplastic part finishing technique is provided that smooths and ensures color saturation of thermoplastic parts. The technique uses nonhazardous vapor condensation to rapidly heat a thermoplastic part to a temperature higher than its melting temperature. The part then may be cooled to a temperature lower than its melting temperature (and preferable lower than its glass-transition temperature. In some cases, evaporation may be employed to rapidly cool the part. Condensation and, where applicable evaporation, may be promoted by pressure changes to the nonhazardous vapor (e.g., increasing pressure to above atmospheric pressure and then decreasing pressure back to atmospheric pressure), exposure of the part to a separately-heated cloud of nonhazardous vapor (e.g., moving the part into and then out of the separately-heated cloud or injecting and then stopping injection of separately-heated vapor), or by other techniques.