16.1. Introduction

Processing

For general plastic manufacturing, process variables such as temperature and pressure are correlated to a time scale that makes up what manufacturing engineers call the process window. This process window is linked to the resins’ viscosity during a process cycle. Normally, pressure is applied when the resin is just starting to harden (See Figure 16-1).

Figure 16-1. Resin is forced through a temperature profile. Pressure has to be applied during a process window to obtain certain material properties.