Have you ever wondered how some common items are made? A lot of different products are made out of a really cool material called Sheet Molding Compound (SMC). SMC is a unique composite that is strong, lightweight, and extremely durable in nature. And, due to these attributes, SMC lends itself well to manufacturing a variety of items, particularly components for vehicles and airplanes.
A mixture of several materials is used to create SMC. These materials consist of a specialty plastic called polyester resin, fiberglass and various fillers. The first step is the blending of these materials. The mixture is then heated and pressed. The heating and pressing turns the mixture into a flat sheet of material. The KeyBlades are perfected in the different shapes that are needed to form the final products.
There are lots of benefits of SMC for product manufacturers and end-users. SMC has one of the most important advantages that it is highly robust. SMC in its dimensional aligned, and conductive or dielectric form, do not break under pressure. Its strength makes it ideal for producing critical components like those in cars and planes, where safety and durability are paramount.
Second, SMC is significantly lighter than the aforementioned materials. Overall, this means that SMC will create lighter products and more enery efficient products when the product is actually in-use in the field. The much lower weight of the products delivers a significant advantage for manufacturers and consumers alike as it makes them more efficient as well.
SMC is utilized in leading industries like automotive industry. Most car manufacturers depend on SMC to create crucial components, including hoods, trunks and fenders. Producing durable and lightweight parts, SMC contributes to delivering fuel-efficient vehicles that handle well on the road. SMC parts are also generally resistant to rust and other kinds of damage, making them a good choice for use in places with extreme weather.
SMC is also widely used in the aerospace industry. SCM is utilized in the production of airplane components including wings, tail fins and fuselages. And because SMC is so lightweight, it helps reduce the overall airplane weight, which contributes to better fuel efficiency. This is extremely significant in aviation since the lighter the planes are, they can fly longer distances and consume lesser fuel. But when you're at ultra high altitude — you better be flying only with SMC parts, as they're more than capable of handling the extreme pressures and forces.
With everyone saturated with awareness of our planet, SMC is proving to be a preferable option. Manufacturers can learn to lower their carbon footprint and create less waste by using SMC instead of conventional materials like steel or concrete. SMC is also recyclable material. This means that rather than ending up in a landfill, SMC products can be recycled at their end of life instead, which is better for the environment.