Moulds for transforming plastic and composite materials and related transformation method

A mold for transforming a material comprising at least one of a plastic and a composite material, the mold comprising:

• a cooling system for cooling the material in the mold;
• a mold body comprising at least one impression arrangement;
• a heating arrangement which directly heats at least one of:
• the material;
• and
• an intermediary surface impression arranged adjacent to the material;
• the at least one impression arrangement comprising an insulating material that prevents transfer of calorific energy from the material to the mold body, and vice-versa;
• the insulating material comprising a mineral resin which includes an association of non-organic constituents;
• an insulating device arranged one of:
• within the insulating material;
• and
• between the insulating material and the mold body;
• and
• a device for pressurizing the material,
• wherein the mold body comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion comprising a recessed impression which forms part of the impression arrangement and the second portion comprising a relief impression which forms another part of the impression arrangement, and
• wherein the device for pressurizing the material comprises a flexible membrane.

A mold for transforming a material comprising at least one of a plastic and a composite material, the mold comprising:

• a cooling system for cooling the material in the mold;
• a mold body comprising at least one impression arrangement;
• a heating arrangement which directly heats at least one of:
• the material;
• and
• an intermediary surface impression arranged adjacent to the material;
• the at least one impression arrangement comprising an insulating material that prevents transfer of calorific energy from the material to the mold body, and vice-versa;
• the insulating material comprising a mineral resin which includes an association of non-organic constituents;
• and
• an insulating device arranged one of:
• within the insulating material;
• and
• between the insulating material and the mold body,
• wherein the cooling system for cooling the material comprises a flexible membrane and a circulation system which circulates fresh air between a relief impression and the flexible membrane.

A method of transforming a material comprising at least one of a plastic and a composite material, the method comprising:

• providing a mold body comprising one of a rigid plastic material and a composite material and which includes at least one impression arrangement, a flexible pressurizing device structured and arranged to exert pressure on the material being molded, and a heating arrangement;
• directly heating, in the mold body, at least one of the material and a surface of the impression arrangement;
• and
• cooling the material in the mold body with a cooling system,
• wherein the directly heating occurs without using a thermal conductivity of the mold body.

A mold for transforming a material comprising at least one of a plastic and a composite material, the mold comprising:

• a mold system comprising one of a rigid plastic material and a composite material and including a first portion and a second portion;
• an insulating material arranged on each of the first and second portions;
• the insulating material of the first portion comprising a recessed impression;
• the insulating material of the second portion comprising a relief impression;
• each insulating material being configured to prevent transfer of calorific energy from the material to the mold system, and vice-versa;
• a cooling system for cooling the material in the mold system;
• a flexible pressurizing device structured and arranged to exert pressure on the material being molded;
• a heating system arranged in the mold system;
• and
• the heating system being configured to directly heat the material.

A mold for transforming a material comprising at least one of a plastic and a composite material, the mold comprising:

• a mold comprising one of a rigid plastic material and a composite material and including a first portion and a second portion;
• an insulating material arranged on each of the first and second portions;
• the insulating material of the first portion comprising a recessed impression;
• the insulating material of the second portion comprising a recessed impression;
• each insulating material being configured to prevent transfer of calorific energy from the material to the mold, and vice-versa;
• a flexible pressurizing device structured and arranged to exert pressure on the material being molded;
• a cooling system arranged in the second portion of the mold;
• a heating system arranged in the first portion of the mold;
• and
• the heating system being configured to directly heat the material.