Shaping thermosetting plastics: which moulding process is used exclusively for thermosets (in its classic form)?

Introduction / Context:Thermosets cure irreversibly; forming methods must allow in-mould crosslinking under heat and pressure. Compression moulding is the classic, exclusive process historically associated with thermosets like phenolics and melamines.

Concept / Approach:Compression moulding loads a preheated charge into a heated cavity and cures it under pressure—ideal for thermosets. Transfer moulding also serves thermosets but is not traditionally termed “exclusive” in basic texts; extrusion and injection are primarily thermoplastic routes.

Final Answer:Compression moulding