Structural Thermoset Compounds Address High-Performance Applications

Structural thermosets are distinguished from standard SMC and BMC by the use of more specialized resins combined with higher levels of reinforcement (glass, carbon, aramid, etc.). This combination allows them to satisfy unique performance requirements. Structural thermosets improve the design, manufacture, and durability of a broad range of products, causing many design engineers and molders to convert their product designs to Structural Thermoset SMC and Structural Thermoset BMC. Consisting of fiber-reinforced polymers with cross-linked molecules, these products offer a number of advantages over metals and thermoplastics, including higher strength per unit weight, better dimensional stability and corrosion resistance, greater design flexibility, and lower overall costs.

Markets such as Automotive, Military, Industrial, Electrical, Sports, and Safety rely increasingly on Structural Thermoset SMC and BMC technology to address growing demands for high-reliability metal replacement materials. Due to the intrinsic limitations of metals and thermoplastics, many designers turn to structural thermosets to provide greater strength, lower coefficients of thermal expansion, and better corrosion resistance than other commonly used materials, while increasing design flexibility and manufacturing efficiency. The strong molecular bonds inherent in high-performance thermoset compounds impart a tight web of inner connectivity that provides these materials with the ability to maintain excellent structural properties during prolonged exposure to extreme chemical and temperature profiles.