Introducing cellulose nanocrystals in sheet molding compounds (SMC)

The mechanical properties of short glass fiber/epoxy composites containing cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) made using sheet molding compound (SMC) manufacturing method as well as the rheological and thermomechanical properties of the CNC-epoxy composites were investigated as a function of the CNC content. CNC up to 1.4 wt% were dispersed in the epoxy to produce the resin for SMC production. The addition of CNC in the resin increased its viscosity and slightly reduced the heat of reaction during the polymerization without altering the curing time and temperature and the effective pot life of the resin. The incorporation of 0.9 wt% CNC in the SMC composite resulted in increases in elastic modulus and tensile strength by ∼25% and ∼30% and in flexural modulus and strength by ∼44% and ∼33% respectively. Concentrations of CNC up to 0.9 wt% in the SMC composite did not alter the impact energy.