Baking. The prolonged application of heat intended to achieve either a specific temperature or a specific result.

Bonding. The reaction within an adhesive, generally created by heating, resulting in the desired adhesion.

Burn-Off. The process of heating typically fixtures coated with paint or powder to oxidize and remove the coating.

Crosslinking. The forming of networks if connected molecules between molecular chains, typically generated by the application of heat.

Curing. A term commonly used to describe a reaction within a coating or polymer, generally caused by heating, resulting in the desired finish. In powder coating, curing refers to the crosslinking or polymerization of the coating. In latex, curing refers to the vulcanization of the polymer.

Dip molding. Typically the process of preheating, dipping, and curing plastisol to form plastic caps, plugs, grips, and handles. Also applies to dipping of latex for the manufacture of gloves and condoms.

Drying. The removal of moisture typically in the form of water or solvent.

Embossing. The process of impregnating an image into a material, typically after the application of heat to soften the material.

Flash-Off. The time after the application of a solvent based coating but before the application of heat when the light solvents evaporate from the coating.

Fusing. The gelling or melting of a powder coating into a liquid film.

Gelling. The fusing or melting of a powder coating into a liquid film.

Glazing. The process of drying the moisture and melting a ceramic first into a porcelain, or glass-like surface.

Homogenizing. The heating of cast aluminum to a temperature necessary to change the chemical bonds, but not hot enough to remelt the aluminum.

Laminating. The process of clear coating a product or material with a sheet of material.

Polymerization. The chemical reaction combining small molecules into large molecules.

Preheating. The application of heat to a part in advance of an additional process step. For example, the preheating of a mold before dipping it into plastisol in the dip molding process.l

Rotational Molding. The process of dispensing material into a mold, closing the mold, rotating the mold while applying heat, rotating while cooling, then opening the mold to remove the molded part.

Thermoforming. The process of molding plastic typically through the application of heat, pressure or vacuum, and cooling.

Vulcanizing. The crosslinking or polymerization of a latex or rubber polymer with heat and pressure.