Reaction Injection Molding with Glass Fiber Reinforcement

Thermosetting liquid urethanes processed by reaction injection molding (RIM) can be reinforced with glass fibers. Special considerations of both the materials and the process system elements are required due to the characteristics of the reinforcement.

Typically, slurries are prepared with milled glass fibers and one or both of the liquid urethane components. Then the urethane components are combined with mechanical and/or impingement mixing and injected into a mold.

The resulting composites show increased stiffness and reduced thermal expansion due to the glass fiber reinforcement. These new material systems are expected to be used in many applications requiring good dimensional stability over a wide temperature range.