Resins are more or less liquid products composed of different chemical substances, and are for instance used for manufacturing paints, soaps, drugs and turpentine. In the industrial sector, primarily synthetic resins are used. Applications, in which the solidity providing and adhesive characteristics are used, like for adhesives and glues, are typical. Another typical application is the use for finishing and sealing of surfaces, but also the use for moulding.

According to DIN 55958 (from December 1988), synthetic resins are manufactured by polymerisation, polyaddition or polycondensation reactions. Synthetic resins are usually composed of two primary components. Mixing both components (resin and hardener) provides the reactive resin bulk. Viscosity increases while hardening, and once the hardening process is completed, you’ll obtain an infusible (duroplastic) plastic material.

Synthetic resins (or short resins) are often processed in casting processes. The casting resin is poured into a reusable or lost mould, in this case.

In most cases, pourable bulk materials, which are processed in a warm moulding process including an immediately following irreversible hardening process at increased temperatures for obtaining moulded parts and semi-finished products, are called hardenable moulding compounds. In this process, often high pressures are required for completely filling the mould.