In the Injection Moulding process, what purpose do the heaters serve?

In the Injection Moulding process, heaters play a crucial role in melting the plastic material as it travels through the machine. This process begins with pellets of thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic, which need to be transformed into a liquid state to easily fill the mould cavity. The heaters increase the temperature of the material within the barrel of the machine, allowing it to soften and become molten, thus ensuring smooth flow into the mould.

Once the plastic is in its melted state, it can be injected into the mould with high pressure, where it then cools and solidifies into the desired shape. This step is fundamental to the efficiency and effectiveness of the injection moulding process, as it directly affects the quality and consistency of the finished product.

Other options regarding cooling, pressure application, or shaping the mould cavity refer to different phases and components of the injection moulding process but do not pertain to the function of the heaters.