Use of bio-based and renewable materials for sheet molding compounds (SMC) – Mechanical properties and susceptibility to fungal decay

Abstract

In Europe, Sheet Molding Compound (SMC) has high market relevance in the field of glass fiber reinforced polymer composites (GFRPC). This is based on their wide range of application abilities. Almost 20 wt.-% of GFRPC are processed of SMC material, e.g. for semi-structural components in various applications from construction industry to automotive components. Based on the ability for the production of lightweight structural components in a cost-efficient manufacturing process with high design freedom and high formability, material and process are well established. Standard glass fiber reinforced SMC semi-finished products (GF-SMC) consist of resin paste, based on unsaturated polyester resin, different application specific additives, reinforcing fibers with a length of one to two inches and mineral filler materials. In this paper, the impact of the replacement of conventional mineral filler material by bio-based and renewable filler material sunflower hull meal to mechanical properties and biological decay was analyzed.