Before measurement, samples from each lot were tempered at ambient temperature
and cut from Petri dishes into disk-shaped slices 20 mm in diameter and 1 mm thick with a 570 S.T.E slicer (Germany).
They were then placed on the lower plate of the rheometer for measuring.
Any excess sample protruding beyond the upper plate was carefully removed.
Samples were allowed to rest for 15 min before analyses to ensure both thermal
and mechanical equilibrium at the time of measurement.