High-temperature die sets for advanced sample preparation
Imperial Instruments’ Heatable Die Sets are engineered for laboratory and industrial powder compaction applications where temperature control during pressing is critical. Designed to reach temperatures up to 300 °C and 500 °C, our heatable die sets enable thermal-assisted compaction for challenging materials, improving pellet density, reducing defects, and enabling repeatable results for FTIR, XRF, materials research, and high-temperature processes.
What are heatable die sets used for?
Heatable die sets are used when temperature plays a role in powder behaviour during pellet formation. Many materials — such as polymers, metal oxides, ceramics, catalysts, battery electrode powders, and high-moisture minerals — exhibit improved plasticity, reduced internal stresses, and higher bonding when heated during compaction. By integrating precise temperature control into the pressing process, heatable dies help laboratories and industrial facilities produce higher-quality pellets with fewer cracks and better analytical characteristics for XRF and FTIR spectroscopy.
How heatable die sets work
A heatable die set incorporates the same components as a standard pellet die — cavity, punches, and plunger — but with integrated heating elements and temperature controllers. As the powder is compressed inside the die during pressing, the heatable elements raise the temperature of the material to the target level (e.g., 300 °C or 500 °C), often controlled via a digital temperature controller. This thermal compaction helps reduce brittleness, improve particle adhesion, and allow materials that are temperature-sensitive or require phase changes to form into uniform, high-density pellets.
Die set types
Imperial Instruments offers a comprehensive range of heatable die sets designed for compatibility with both manual and automatic hydraulic presses.
01
300 °C heatable die sets
Ideal for powders requiring moderate thermal activation during compaction.
02
500 °C heatable die sets
Designed for materials that require high-temperature pressing to improve bonding and reduce porosity.
03
Standard circular dies
Classic design for cylindrical pellet formation in FTIR and XRF testing.
04
Splitable die sets
Fast, easy demoulding for complex or delicate pellets.
05
Square die sets
For non-circular sample geometries required in specialised testing.
06
Hardened alloy dies
High wear resistance for repeated high-pressure and high-temperature use.
