PROCESSES FOR FORMING PLASTIC, APPARATUSES FOR FORMING PLASTIC, AND ARTICLES MADE THEREFROM

摘要

Process and apparatus (10) for forming plastics by heating an open mold (12) and contacting the open mold (12) with plastic particulate material (16) held within a container (14) to form a melted skin on the mold (12), and resulting articles made therefro. The mold (12) is provided with a carrier (18), which may include heating and cooling lines for achieving a desired mold temperature. Single skin molded articles may be multi-layered with or without paint on the surface. Multiple skin moled articles may include sandwiched layers of plastic filler or expandable foam filled centers, with or without various inserts or reinforcements.