Non-flowing thermosets/BMC
BMC is a glass-fibre-reinforced polyester bulk moulding compound, which is usually supplied in bales. It is a non-free-flowing thermosetting moulding compound, which is formed by the thickening of liquid unsaturated polyester resins using earth oxides.
Benefits
- Very good dimensional stability
- High continuous operating temperature
- Good chemical resistance
- Very good mechanical properties
- Efficient cost-performance ration
- Good electrical properties
- Tried-and-tested process
The non-free-flowing material necessitates an adapted material feed into the plasticating unit by means of a special pushing device or ‘stuffer’. With the beginning of the plasticating process, the screw of the stuffer rotates and conveys the BMC into the plasticating cylinder under a defined stuffer pressure. The stuffer control unit is integrated in the machine control system and enables control of the stuffing pressure for a constant material feed. The plasticating unit comprises a screw adapted to the BMC processing and a cylinder which is temperature-controlled using liquid chemical agents. The machine has an integrated electric mould heating unit for heating the mould to a temperature ranging from 140°C to 200°C and to accelerate the cross-linking reaction. As soon as the dimensionally stable state is reached, the formed parts can be demoulded.
