Manufacture of Light Weight Automotive Parts by Elastic Reservoir Molding

A commercial process for composite (thermoset) materials has been developed. Key advantages are light weight, low molding pressures, and the ability to accommodate two or more types of reinforcements and one or two resin systems. Partial or complete encapsulation of light-weight cores with tough FRP skin can be obtained. Current and potential applications include light weight, structural automotive, and industrial fiberglass reinforced composites.