An apparatus is described for studying industrial RF assisted processes, on
the laboratory scale. The applied electromagnetic field can be as intense
as that used in industry; it can be varied for performing step changes, con
stant temperature, or constant absorbed power experiments. The thermal envi
ronmental conditions of the product can also be controlled The permittivity
is continuously measured so that the energy balance is carefully establish
ed.
Results concerning the study of PVC-plastisol gelation will illustrate the
performances of the apparatus and illustrate how modeling of the process ca
n be done.