Huber's ingredients for reinforced plastics include:

• Alumina trihydrate
• Calcium carbonate
• Silica / Silicate

How can Huber assist in your formulation?

• Sheet molding compounds (SMC)
• Bulk molding compounds (BMC)
• Pultrusion (continuous-length filament-reinforced plastic composite profiles)

Service and support:

• Processing -
  Loading level, matrix viscosity, ease of eispersion, wet-out of reinforcement and surface appearance
  
• Functional - 
  Physical properties, CTLE, hardness, chemical stability and fire retardance

 

BMC Overview

A typical BMC formula includes polyester resin, catalyst, release agents, colorant, fillers and reinforcements.  These are then formulated by combining all the ingredients in an intensive mixing process, forming a fibrous putty that can be molded directly.

Molding of BMC is accomplished by compression and injection methods.  

Compression BMC is weighed and placed into the opened mold, the mold closes and the pressure of closing forces material throughout the mold. 

Injection molding BMC is accomplished by placing BMC into feeder boxes or funnel from which compound is stuffed into injector barrel and pushed by means of turning screw into molding chamber.  Pressure of injection forces material throughout the mold.  The mold is heated (250-300º F) and the heat causes cure.

SMC Overview

Molding of SMC is compression molding. The material is formed as two plastic film tapes are continuously coated with a resin paste and fiber reinforcement is continuously chopped and deposited on one of the past coated films

Pultrusion Overview

A typical pultrusion machine consists of six in-line stations: 1) filament dispensing, 2) resin impregnation, 3) pre-shaping, 4) heated die, 5) gripper/puller and 6) cut-off. 

This process includes reinforcing filaments (glass fiber roving) saturated with catalyzed thermoset resin. The product is continuously pulled through a shaped orifice in a heated steel die.  The end result is a rigid, cured profile corresponding to the die orifice shape.