Molding (process)

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One half of a bronze mold for casting a socketed spear head dated to the period 1400-1000 BC. There are no known parallels for this mold.

Molding is the process of manufacturing by shaping pliable raw material using a rigid frame or model called a mold.

A mold or mould is a hollowed-out block that is filled with a liquid like plastic, glass, metal, or ceramic raw materials. The liquid hardens or sets inside the mold, adopting its shape. A mold is the opposite of a cast (see casting). The manufacturer who makes the molds is called moldmaker. A release agent is typically used to make removal of the hardened/set substance from the mold easier.

Types of molding include:

• Powder metallurgy and ceramics
  • Compaction plus sintering
• Plastics
  • Injection molding
    • Reaction injection molding
  • Compression molding
  • Transfer molding
  • Extrusion molding
  • Blow molding
  • Rotational molding
  • Thermoforming
    • Vacuum forming, a simplified version of thermoforming
  • Laminating
  • Expandable bead molding
  • Foam molding
  • Rotomolding
  • Vacuum plug assist molding
  • Pressure plug assist molding
  • Matched mold

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