Influence of processing and testing conditions on the mechanical behaviour of sheet-moulding compound laminates

Studies have been carried out in order to optimize the compression-moulding cycle for two classes of commercial sheet-moulding compounds, standard and low-shrink prepregs. The laminates have been moulded at different temperature and pressure conditions, and afterwards their mechanical behaviour has been analysed by flexural and tensile tests at various temperatures and strain rates. Furthermore, dynamic-mechanical measurements have been used to correlate temperature-dependent viscoelastic properties, and the structure of the moulded materials.