CompositesWorld
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NEWS 77 CompositesWorld.com SMC Renaissance, Part 2 prepreg folks know how to handle hot melts, but trying to trans- late that technology to an SMC machine can be trickier because hot-melt systems process at significantly higher temperatures than traditional paste. On the other hand, with hot melt, you can lay down significantly more pounds of material per hour to get higher productivity." "When you're talking about styrene emissions, it's impor- tant to remember that on the SMC side, we're using a closed- mold process," adds Mark Harber, business manager, AOC LLC (Collierville, TN, US). "at means it's relatively easy to engineer out styrene emissions for both the worker and the environment." Because SMC is molded at high temper- ature, he explains, that fact can help solve part of the problem. VOCs are flashed off, captured and incinerated during the molding process. AOC's approach, therefore, is to work with non-styrene diluents, such as vinyl toluene and acrylates. Harber adds, "If you're looking at something other than traditional styrene, you might be able to make SMC more UV stable. ere can be a downside, but there also can be an upside to these changes." "is is a very exciting time for composites," adds CSP's Siwajek. "After 45 years, we have a solution, and people need to tell customers, 'Don't lose heart, these technologies are filtering out, and carbon fiber is knocking on the door.'" Core's O'Donovan expands on this, with the auto industry in mind: "For intermediate-volume programs, studies have shown that SMC composites are the economical choice against steel Read this article online | short.compositesworld.com/OldDog2 Read Part 1 of CW's update on sheet molding compound technologies in "SMC: Old dog, new tricks" | short.compositesworld.com/OldDog Read more about Huntsman's work to decouple polyurethane viscosity build from resin "snap cure" in the following: "A new "tunable" polyurethane could revolutionize composites" | short. compositesworld.com/tunablePUR "Form + function = Classy chassis" | short.compositesworld.com/ClassChass Read the story behind the SMC used in the battery box and tray on the 2014 Chevy Spark in "Onboard protection: Tough battery enclosure" | short.compositesworld.com/SparkBEV and aluminum. With all the advances in resins and fibers that are driving down density while maintaining or improving strength, SMC composites are a legitimate choice for new applications." Contributing writer Peggy Malnati covers the automotive and infrastructure beats for CW and provides communications services for plastics- and composites-industry clients. peggy@compositesworld.com Today's SMC challenges require the utmost Compression Molding Expertise. Greenerd has the engineered application solutions you need to succeed. Pressing for the best solution A m e r i c a n M a d e SM C R E Q U I R E S C M E • Automotive • Aerospace • Medical • Marine • Industrial Innovative Hydraulic Compression Molding Solutions 800-877-9110 • www.greenerd.com Scan to visit our Compression Molding Applications Showroom!