Ultralight Class A Body Panels

A new 1.2 SG SMC eliminated 9 kg of body-panel weight after a running change from a mid-density grade, where no tooling changes were required. Suitable for Class A or structural components, the new composite offers 28% mass reduction vs. mid-density (1.6 SG) grades and 43% vs. conventional (1.9 SG) SMC. It provides greater benefits vs. metal, including reduced weight and tooling costs, enhanced design flexibility, corrosion and dent resistance, and superior surface finish. Key to achieving the ultralow density was replacement of CACO3 with hollow-glass microspheres and use of a proprietary surface treatment to improve the resin/reinforcement interface.

OEM/Vehicle General Motors Co. 2016 Chevrolet Corvette System Supplier Continental Structural Plastics Material Processor Continental Structural Plastics

Material Supplier Continental Structural Plastics Resin Century Tool & Gage, Paragon Die & Engineering Co. Tooling/Equipment Supplier TCA Ultra Lite  SMC

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