What process involves applying heat and pressure to plastic to manipulate form?

The process that involves applying heat and pressure to plastic to manipulate its form is known as injection molding. In this method, plastic material is heated until it reaches a molten state and then injected into a mold under high pressure. This allows the molten plastic to fill the intricate shapes of the mold accurately, which cools and hardens to create the desired final product.

Injection molding is particularly advantageous because it can produce complex shapes with high precision and efficiency, making it suitable for mass production. The use of heat in this process is essential to ensure the plastic flows easily into the mold, while the application of pressure ensures that the material adheres well to the mold surfaces and minimizes defects in the final part.

Although other processes like blow molding, thermoforming, and extrusion also involve heat and can manipulate plastic, they do so in different ways and for different applications. In blow molding, air is used to inflate hot plastic into a mold. Thermoforming involves heating a plastic sheet and shaping it over a mold, while extrusion is a continuous process where plastic is pushed through a die to create long shapes or profiles. Each of these techniques has its specific applications and benefits, but injection molding is key for creating precise and detailed plastic components.