Comparison study of different formulation effect on the mechanical behavior of sheet molding compound (SMC)

Abstract

Sheet Molding Compound (SMC) is specifically a fiber Reinforced plastic which has usually composed with glass fibers impregnated between two layers of thermosetting resin, fillers, additives, catalysts, inhibitors, impact modifiers and also internal mold release agent. In this study, carbon nanotube has initiated as a reinforcing element for the sheet molding compound (SMC) so that the mechanical strength of the composite can be more intensified as carbon nanotubes have an extraordinary mechanical properties. In this consequence, the mechanical properties of sheet molding compound (SMC), containing carbon nanotubes manufactured following the hand layup process were investigated where carbon nanotubes up to 25 wt. % instead of glass fiber was used in the composition of Sheet Molding Compound (SMC) but that didn’t increase the mechanical properties which were highly recommended for our research purpose. However, carbon nanotubes up to 4.5 wt.% were dispersed in the resin formulation to produce the sheet molding compound (SMC) and studies resulted in increases in tensile strength and flexural strength by 2 times and 8 times respectively from the conventional tensile and flexural strength of sheet molding compound, which turned out a positive result. Besides all of this, we also introduced glass microsphere with calcium carbonate where both performed as a filler. This can be stated another significant cause for increasing the mechanical properties of the sheet molding compound (SMC) because glass microspheres have improved dimension stability, improved stiffness at a given weight. The main advantage of using glass microspheres lies in the weight reduction of the composite which is highly recommended because the main purpose of a composite production is to reduce the total weight of the produced material.