Morphology of the outermost layer of a compression molded composite based on unsaturated polyester resin

摘要

Composites materials, SMC and BMC are widelyused for the manufacture of automotive parts. These highperformance materials are characterized by their superior surfacequality. A strict control of the surface quality goes through a goodknowledge of the surface and of the outermost layer. The presentwork is dedicated to composites surfaces knowledge. The studiedmaterial was a compression mold thermosetting composite basedon unsaturated polyester resin. Different components like moldrelease agent, mineral fillers as calcium carbonate and glass fiberswere introduced in the resin to prepare the composite. WithSEM,XPS and AFM which are techniques dedicated to characterizethe surface and the outermost layer, we were able to identify andlocate each component in the outermost layer. The mold releaseagent was found at the surface. The other components were deeperlocalized: Although they are more than 0.4μm deep, the glassfibers have an impact on the topography of the surface. A surfacelayer model was proposed.