The new composites are designed as alternatives to thermoset sheet molding compounds (SMCs). Offering similar mechanical performance, they are much more ductile and, as thermoplastic systems, much ...

Compression molding is a high-volume thermoset molding process that employs expensive but very durable metal dies. It is an appropriate choice when production quantities exceed 10,000 parts. As many ...

The direct, or inline-compounding (ILC), process has been a major boon to thermoplastic composites during the past decade. Direct processing has driven significant growth in the use of such materials ...

Chopped prepreg molding compound (CPMC), a relatively new material form resembling molding compounds made from chopped resin impregnated tow, provides design and processing engineers various benefits ...