Abstract: The invention relates to a tip indenting apparatus for testing a block of material, characterized in that it comprises: a holder for the tip and a holder for a block of a material to be punched or scratched, said tip holder and said block holder each comprising a solid body made of heat conducting material; securing means for removably securing the tip or the block in thermal-conducting contact to said solid body; an annular sheath having a shape corresponding to that of said solid body and in which said solid body is provided; heating means comprising at least one electric heater; and means for assembling the solid body and the heating means; wherein, during a test, the tip can be heated at a predetermined temperature, in particular a temperature essentially equal to that of the block of material to be tested.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tip indenting apparatus for testing a block of material, characterized in that it comprises: a holder for the tip and a holder for a block of a material to be punched or scratched, said tip holder and said block holder each comprising a solid body made of heat conducting material; securing means for removably securing the tip or the block in thermal-conducting contact to said solid body; an annular sheath having a shape corresponding to that of said solid body and in which said solid body is provided; heating means comprising at least one electric heater; and means for assembling the solid body and the heating means; wherein, during a test, the tip can be heated at a predetermined temperature, in particular a temperature essentially equal to that of the block of material to be tested.

Abstract: Apparatus for plasma activated chemical vapor deposition, the apparatus comprising a microwave-excited plasma reactor with a reaction enclosure (10), a microwave generator (20), a waveguide (21) providing non-resonant coupling, and insertion means (40-54) for inserting at least one flow of a predetermined gaseous mixture into the enclosure; the insertion means comprise, in order: transformation means (40-43) for transforming the state of a precursor of a material to be deposited to bring it to the gaseous state, feed means (41, 42) for feeding a vector gas suitable for being charged with the gaseous precursor to constitute the above-mentioned predetermined gaseous mixture; and injection means (18) for injecting the predetermined gaseous mixture into the enclosure (10) and comprising an externally frustoconical nozzle provided with an injection orifice situated at one end and shaped as a function of the injection orifice and of the column configuration of the plasma formed, said nozzle having means for heating