Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 4.3
Commonly Used Processing Techniques for thermoset
Materials
Processing
technique
Plastic resins (a variety
of reinforcement is
used in all these
processing techniques
including polyester,
vinylester, epoxy, and
phenolic and methyl
methacylates)
Typical
products
Base
technology
Pultrusion Unsaturated polyester,
polyurethane, vinylester,
and epoxy (recently, some
thermoplastics such as
poly(ethylene
terephthalate) (PET) has
been successfully used in
pultrusion)
Round rods,
rectangles,
squares, “i”
sections,
channels, dog
bone profiles,
corner
profiles,
hollow
sections
The resin
impregnation
of roving and
subsequent
cure
Resin
transfer
molding
Unsaturated polyester,
vinylester, epoxy,
Products with
a complex
shape where
wall thickness
is critical and
yields a
smooth finish
on both sides
Thermoset
resin
impregnation
of fiber mats
and cure
Sheet
molding
compound
(SMC)
Same as above
Sheets and
laminates
Cut short fiber
embedded in
resin layer and
cured
Hand lay-up
and spray
lay-up
Same as above
Used in
molding large
complicated
shaped objects
Laying resin
impregnated
reinforcing
fabric by hand
