In the AZL Workgroup ‘High-Performance SMC’, a project was developed in co-operation with M-Base, the IKV and the AZL partner network for the efficient and standardised provision of engineering data for sheet moulding compounds (SMC).
Within the scope of the project, companies can participate in the definition of the required characteristic material data, the guidelines for the production of test specimens, and the test specifications.
SMCs are used in various application areas such as vehicles, electronics, construction and infrastructure. Driven by the requirements to reduce the production costs of lightweight components, a new generation of SMC components with high mechanical properties is relevant. SMC offers enormous potential to realise structural components with good lightweight characteristics at significantly reduced costs compared to conventional continuous fibre-reinforced components.
In order to further establish SMC in broad industrial applications, companies participating within the AZL Workgroup recognised the value of a data bank for data harmonisation of SMC to provide the possibility of easily finding the right material with its characteristics for the needed specific requirements.
Photographer:C: KRAUTHAUSEN
AZL and IKV launch long fibre-reinforced SMC project
Dr Michael Effing
Dr Michael Effing, Chairman of the Board of AVK and Composites Germany, said: “The segment of SMC is, with 250,000 tonnes production per year, the largest composites market in Europe. I am very pleased that we start now with the project of data harmonization along the complete value chain. The goal is to have a similar database as already established by Campus for thermoplastics and thermoplastic composites. Only with a reliable set data we can convince the engineering experts to use SMC in a larger variety of applications.”
As of now a databank for engineered thermoplastic materials (by Campus) already exists and has begun offering value.
Under the lead of M-Base CEO Dr Erwin Baur, the AZL, IKV and companies along the value chain of long fibre-reinforced SMC initiated to build a compatible data structure and material characterisation methodology during the High-Performance SMC Workgroup Meetings.