Influence of the processing parameters on glass mat reinforced thermoplastic (GMT) stamping

The influence of both the processing parameters and mould geometry on the mechanical properties and surface quality of polypropylene based glass mat reinforced thermoplastic (gmt) parts was studied. The parameters controlled were the forming pressure, the temperature in the surface of the blank, and the mould temperature. The influence of the geometry was also studied using three different moulds. It was seen that the mechanical properties did not vary substantially for the ranges of temperature and pressure used. Some differences were seen among the data collected from different moulds and a correlation existed between the surface quality of the parts and the mould temperature and design.