Composites For Transportation Markets

Bulk Molding Compound (BMC) and Sheet Molding Compound (SMC) composites are essential in the transportation field, spanning agriculture, automotive, rail and heavy-duty, providing exceptional durability and performance.

Agriculture

Equipment in the agricultural market is subject to a harsh environment and must withstand significant stress.

For this reason, manufacturers are focusing on thermosetting composites such as Bulk Molding Compound (BMC) and Sheet Molding Compound (SMC) for their new product design, because these composite materials have been tested in the most extreme conditions.

The products on this market benefiting from the performance of our products are:

• Trailer components

• Equipment crates

• Agricultural machinery body panels

This choice of material for agricultural equipment provides a long-term solution for manufacturers.

Automotive and Truck Parts
BMC (Bulk Molding Compund) and SMC (Sheet Molding Compound) materials are used for a wide range of automotive parts.

Below are some specific applications, where BMC and SMC materials are commonly used by the automotive and heavy goods vehicle industries:

• Air deflectors and spoilers

• Frames for windows / sunroofs

• Grilles

• Battery housings

• Headlamp reflectors

• Bumpers

• Heat shields (engine, transmission)

• Cylinder head covers

• Columns and trims

• Tailgates

• Battery covers for electric vehicles

Thermosetting composite materials are used for their high thermal stability, low coefficient of thermal expansion (comparable with steel), excellent dimensional stability, high impact resistance, relatively low weight and ability to be painted.

Many of these parts are used where a Class A cosmetic appearance is required, as these materials can meet the paint and cure cycles required in the automotive industry.

Rail transport
Thermoset composites meet the railway industry's requirements for low smoke and flammability, making them ideal for metro, commuter and train applications.

These thermoset composite materials provide superior electrical insulation and thermal resistance, allowing them to withstand prolonged exposure to high temperatures and high voltages common to rail transportation applications.

Applications for BMC and SMC in the rail transport market include:

• Third rail insulators

• Interior cladding panels (piers)

• Tags

• Seat frames

Heavy Truck Industry
Rising costs for die-cast aluminum, zinc and magnesium, along with new emissions regulations and increase in performance. are leading design engineers and manufacturers to convert to composite metals for many of under-hood parts in the heavy-duty industry.

Other features that make the BMC and SMC ideal for heavy-duty applications include:

• Thermal resistance: maintaining dimensional control when exposed to motor heat

• Corrosion resistance: resistance to corrosive substances generally encountered in under-hood applications

• Light weight: up to 35% lighter than steel parts of equal strength

• Consolidation parts: allow manufacturers to reduce the number of components required for a given assembly