Engineering organization AZL and plastics processing institute IKV have launched a joint project to improve the material data for long fiber reinforced sheet molding compound (SMC).
According to the organizations, SMC components with higher mechanical properties will be increasingly required to help make lightweight components at a reduced cost when compared to conventional continuous fiber-reinforced components.
The project members plan to establish a data bank for SMC to make it easier to find the right material with the properties required by the application.
‘The segment of SMC is with 250,000 tons production per year the largest composites market in Europe,’ said Dr Michael Effing, chairman of the board of AVK. ‘Only with a reliable set data we can convince the engineering experts to use SMC in a larger variety of applications.’
AZL plans to develop a testing program to characterize the SMC materials with a range of companies using SMC components.
The project begins in May 2020 with a duration of six months. For more information go here.
This story uses material from AZL, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
