A Hot Press for Radioisotope Source Development

A miniature vacuum hot press has been developed especially for forming research quantities of radioactive materials in a glove box or manipulator cell. The hot press can be readily disassembled and reassembled in a glove box through the access ports. The hot-press assembly is small due to the use of self-alignment and a water-cooled furnace jacket. This design allows rapid heating and cooling cycles. The hot press operates at up to 1700°C and 4000 psi on samples of up to ½-in. diam.