Characterisation of glass fibres used in automotive industry for SMC body panels

Advances in surface quality and a better understanding of the formation mechanisms of surface defects are required for SMC applications as body panels in the automotive industry. This study is focused on the influence of the material formulation and SMC process on the surface quality, which is probably conditioned by the interactions between the paste and the fibres. The main parameters are: (i) the amount of sizing applied on fibres, (ii) the type of antistatic agent and its deposit method and (iii) the type of film former. The approach based on surface energy evaluations seems to be a useful tool to facilitate the prediction of the surface quality without any moulding. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.