System and method for preheating a thermoplastic charge

A method for preheating a thermoplastic charge, the method comprising:

• establishing a flow of a gas through a conduit;
• introducing a thermoplastic particulate material to the flow of the gas to yield a gas-particulate mixture;
• heating at least one of the gas and the gas-particulate mixture using a heating assembly to yield a heated gas-particulate mixture;
• and
• depositing the heated gas-particulate mixture into a mold.

A method for preheating a thermoplastic charge, the method comprising:

• establishing a flow of a gas through a conduit;
• introducing a thermoplastic particulate material to the flow of the gas to yield a gas-particulate mixture;
• inducing a magnetic field using an induction coil surrounding the conduit;
• heating a susceptor, positioned in the magnetic field between the induction coil and at least one of the gas and the gas-particulate mixture moving through the conduit, to a Curie temperature of the susceptor, wherein the Curie temperature of the susceptor is less than a melting temperature of a thermoplastic matrix material of the thermoplastic particulate material;
• and
• heating at least one of the gas and the gas-particulate mixture by one of:
• contacting at least one of the gas and the gas-particulate mixture with the susceptor;
• or
• moving at least one of the gas and the gas-particulate mixture through at least one flow channel formed by the susceptor.