Hot testing machine, in particular of thermoplastic polymers, and associated method

A hot testing machine (1) for carrying out tests on the heat resistance of plastic polymers, said machine comprising:

• at least one test station (3) designed to receive at least one test piece (2) made of a plastic polymer which is to be tested;
• a tank (4) beneath the at least one test station (3) for selectively receiving the at least one test piece (2);
• a heating device (5) housed in the tank or in the vicinity thereof;
• and
• the tank (4) being designed to contain, during use, a liquid for transferring heat from the heating device to the at least one test piece immersed in the heat transfer liquid;
• characterized in that said machine further comprises a suction and treating device (7) for volatile substances which may develop during use from the tank (4), the suction and treating device comprising:
• i) a casing (8), which is fixed laterally to a supporting structure (9) above the tank (4) and internally delimits a first chamber (10);
• ii) an inlet opening (11) to the first chamber, which is arranged substantially flush with or immediately above a perimetral upper edge (6) of the tank and is made through a lateral wall (12) of the casing facing towards the tank;
• iii) a suction fan (13), which is supported by the casing above the first chamber (10) and is connected hydraulically to the first chamber and to an outlet opening (14) made through the casing;
• and
• iv) a filtering cartridge (15), which is housed removably inside the first chamber (10) and is hydraulically interposed in a fluid-tight manner between the inlet opening (11) and the suction fan (13).