Injection compression molding method and apparatus

An injection compression molding method for obtaining a molded product by freely compressing, in a cavity formed by metal molds comprising a movable mold and a fixed mold, molten resin which has been injected into said cavity, said method comprising the steps of:

• extending the thus injected molten resin by compressing the same in said cavity;
• during or after the extending, forming a skin layer on a surface of the molten resin in said cavity;
• then moving the movable mold slightly away from the fixed mold, thereby forming at least one gap between (a) said molds and (b) the skin layer;
• injecting a surface layer material into at least one of said gaps, while the resin in said cavity is still hot such that the skin layer and the surface layer material are compatibilized by mutual solubility at a boundary therebetween;
• during or after the injecting of the surface layer material, moving the movable mold toward the fixed mold;
• and
• then cooling said resin and said surface layer material in the cavity of the metal molds.