Low Density Structural RIM II: High Productivity LD-SRIM 930632

Glass mat reinforced structural polyurethane foam or low density structural reaction injection molding (LD-SRIM) has found a niche in the manufacture of high quality, light weight, automotive, interior trim substrates. Current trends in the automotive industry indicate the need for cost reductions without sacrificing quality. A high productivity LD-SRIM system has been developed which meets this need. This cost reduction is achieved by the incorporation of an internal mold release agent and a 25 % decrease in demold time compared to current LD-SRIM technology. These technological advancements give the trim component manufacturer an increase in productivity by eliminating the time and labor required to apply external mold release and a shorter demold time. These advancements also provide for a significant reduction in the volatile organic compounds and cost associated with external mold release agents. Using a production model it has been estimated that a 20% increase in productivity can be achieved with this technology. A comparison of the physical properties of composites made with this system and those of a system currently employed in industry shows that they are very similar.