SMC is a glass-reinforced thermosetting polymer resin in sheet form used in compression molding processes. It is made by extruding resin onto a plastic sheet and adding fiberglass, then cured and cut to size. SMC is ideal for molding complex shapes with minimal waste, labor, and scrap. It is commonly used for boat hulls, electrical components, automobile body parts, and sanitary ware.
Sheet Molding Compound (SMC) is a ready-to-use glass-reinforced thermosetting polymer resin in sheet form commonly found in compression molding processes. The product is manufactured by extruding a layer of resin compound onto a sheet of plastic and placing strands of chopped fiberglass on its surface. Once the fiber strands have penetrated the resin, a top coat of plastic is applied and the completed resin sheet is rolled up and allowed to cure. When the resin has cured, the sheet can be cut to size and placed into the mold where heat and pressure complete the curing process. The SMC process is desirable because it can be used to mold complex shapes with little waste, requires minimal labor, and enables high volume production.
Ready-to-use thermosetting resins are used extensively in the injection and compression molding industry and are presented in two basic formats: bulk molding compound and sheet molding compound. SMC is often the preferred choice for compression molding processes and consists of flat sheets of mature resin impregnated with glass fiber. Sheets are available in rolls weighing up to 880 lbs. (400 kg) which are cut to size before molding. These resin rolls are usually interleaved with plastic sheets to prevent the layers from sticking together.
Typical production of sheet molding compound involves dispensing a layer of compound consisting of resin, catalyst, fillers, dyes, release agents, and curing agents onto a plastic sheet. The fiberglass rovings are then cut into strands approximately 1 inch (25.4 mm) long and spread over the surface of the resin layer. These strands uniformly penetrate the layer to form a reinforcing matrix, at which point a second sheet of plastic is placed on top. The completed composite sheet is then rolled and removed to a storage area where it is left to mature for approximately 48 hours. Once exposed to heat and pressure in the mold, the sheet molding compound fully cures and the finished product can be removed.
Products manufactured from sheet metal stamping material show excellent mechanical strength, good surface appearance, and outstanding electrical insulation properties. These characteristics make SMC products ideal for the production of boat hulls, high-demand electrical components, class A automobile body parts, and sanitary ware. Processes using inventory of sheet metal stamping compounds are also attractive because minimal labor is required, high production volumes and complex shapes are possible, and very little scrap is generated.
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