Learning About Compression Molding

Injection molding is a manufacturing technique that is used for making parts from thermoplastic materials in production. After a product is designed by an industrial designer or engineer, the models are then made by a moldmaker or toolmaker from metal, usually steel or aluminum.

Compression molding is a method of molding in which the molding material is first placed in an open, heated mold cavity. The mold is then closed with a strong top force or plug member, and pressure is put on to force the material into contact with all of the mold areas, and then proper heat and pressure are maintained until the molding material has completely cured.

The compression molding process employs thermosetting resins in a partially cured stage, either in the form of granules, putty-like masses, or preforms. It is also important to understand that compression molding is an incredibly high volume, high pressure molding method that is suitable for a variety of different purposes, including the molding of complex, high strength fiberglass reinforcement.

More Information on Compression Molding

Compression molding was first developed to manufacture composite parts for metal replacement applications, and it is now mostly used to make larger flat or moderately curved parts such as hoods, fenders, scoops, spoilers and lift gates for vehicles. It is actually the main processing method that is used with thermoset resins, and it can even be employed to process thermoplastic resins.

Thermoplastic resins are able to either be loaded into the mold in the form of pellets or sheet, or the other option is that the mold may be loaded from a plasticating extruder. The thermoplastic materials are then heated until they are above their melting points, formed and cooled. It is important to remember that the better the feed material is distributed overall, the less flow orientation is going to occur during the compression step and thus the better results you are going to end up with.

The Compression Mold

The compression mold is the mold which is used in this molding process, and which shapes the material by heat and by pressure of closing.

This is one of the most commonly used molding methods in the world, primarily because of the numerous different uses that the molds which are created by it can be. It is a very popular field in the world today, and from the looks of statistics and research in this area, it looks as though business is only going to continue to boom in the future.