A Study on the Optimal Conditions according to the Content of the Glass Fiber in the Resin-Automotive Motor Housing Application

A Study on the Optimal Conditions according to the Content of the Glass Fiber in the Resin-Automotive Motor Housing Application

Among the various plastic polymer molding methods, thermoplastic resins are most commonly used for mass production due to their suitability for high-volume manufacturing. However, recently, thermosetting resins have been utilized depending on product design and functionality, necessitating appropriate mold design and injection conditions to achieve suitable molded products. Therefore, resin selection must be considered not only in terms of product design but also based on functionality, taking into account the physical and mechanical properties of the resin. Additionally, since the flow characteristics of the resin are critical in injection molding, molding conditions should be set according to the thermal, physical, and rheological properties of the resin.This study focuses on the effects of filler content (glass fiber) in thermosetting fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP), specifically Bulk Molding Compound (BMC) resin, which is crucial for thermal deformation in automotive motor housing products. The resins used in this study include Generic BMC1 resin, BMC1 with 15% glass fiber, and BMC1 with 30% glass fiber. The research employs CAE (Computer-Aided Engineering) to investigate strain under basic conditions for the BMC resin and the strain variations with the addition of glass fiber. It also examines the impact of filler content on injection molding conditions, specifically mold temperature and curing time. Experimental results indicate that mold temperature has the most significant effect among the injection conditions, while the impact of curing time was relatively minor.