Abstract
The compression moulding flow of SMC has been investigated by squeeze flow testing between parallel circular plates at room temperature and at elevated temperatures of 30 and 70°C. A model based on a variational approach was adopted to characterise the squeeze flow of SMC. The present results indicate that dissipation in the squeeze flow of SMC at 30 and 70°C is predominantly extensional with shear dissipation only becoming significant at very small plate separations. Measurements of the pressure distribution across the plate also confirm that the flow is predominantly extensional. The presence of edge effects due to fibre length is also evident. The strong dependence of the compression moulding flow characteristics of SMC with temperature is demonstrated by changes in the flow parameters.
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