Reinforced-plastic contact molding

This low pressure process, also known as elastic reservoir molding, consists of making basically a sandwich of plastic-impregnated open-celled flexible polyurethane foam between the face layers of fibrous reinforcements. When this plastic composite is placed in a mold and squeezed, the foam is compressed, forcing the plastic outward and into the reinforcement. The elastic foam exerts sufficient pressure to force the plastic-impregnated reinforcement into contact with the heated mold surface. Other plastics are used. 

Contact molding Also called open molding or contact pressure molding. It is a process for molding RPs in which the reinforcement and plastic are placed in a mold cavity. Cure is either at room temperature using a catalyst-promoter system or by heating... 

Contact molding n. A process for molding reinforced plastics in which the reinforcement and plastic are placed on a mold. 

Mat n. A fabric or felt of glass or other reinforcing fibrous material cut to the contour of a mold, for use in reinforced-plastics processes such as matched-die molding, hand lay-up, or contact-pressure molding. The mat is usually impregnated with resin just before or during the molding process. 

Vacuum molding n. This type of molding is used to mold fiberglass-reinforced plastics. The method allows molding without high temperatures and pressures. In this technique, layers of reinforced media are applied to the mold by hand. Resin is either sprayed or brushed on after each layer is positioned. The flexible sheet (usually cellophane or polyvinyl acetate) is placed over the lay up. Joints and seals are sealed and a vacuum causes the b to collapse over the face of the product not contacting the mold. The resultant pressure tends to eliminate voids and forces out any excess resin or entrapped air. Madox DM (1998) Handbook of physical vapor deposition (PVD) processing. Noyes Data Corporation, New York. 

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