CONTROLLING THE FORMATION OF IMPERFECTIONS DUE TO POLYMERIC SHRINKAGE DURING MOLDING OPERATIONS

摘要

Particular embodiments of the invention include apparatus and methods for compensating for shrinkage of a polymeric material in a mold during curing operations. Embodiments of the method include providing a mold comprising a molding cavity defining an interior mold volume separated from an exterior environment and introducing a volume of polymeric material into the molding cavity. Such methods further include impeding the development of a void in the volume of polymeric material by, either: isolating the volume of polymeric material within the molding cavity from the exterior environment, or reducing the interior mold volume of the molding cavity to at least substantially consume a volume of polymeric material shrinkage. Such methods further include curing the polymeric material to form a molded polymeric form.