New Epoxy Systems Enabling Styrene Free High Performance SMC Manufacturing

Hexion’s new styrene-free, low-VOC epoxy system for sheet moulding compound (SMC) leads to high-performance semi-structural and structural automotive composite parts. On equipment used for other types of SMC, it achieves high-volume, lightweight parts, with no need for styrene exposure tracking. 

Primary Topics: 
- The value of styrene-free, low VOC epoxy systems 
- Technology positioning versus alternative products 
- Trial processing results on existing SMC lines 

Presenter: Ian Swentek 
Dr. Ian Swentek, is an Applications Development Engineer at Hexion Inc. where he specializes in epoxy-based technology for high-volume automotive applications such as epoxy sheet molding compound, high pressure resin transfer molding, and liquid compression molding. With Hexion, he has helped develop structural applications such as the C7 Corvette roof frame for Plasan as-well-as newer applications in composite suspension systems. He holds a doctoral degree in Mechanical and Materials Engineering from the University of Western Ontario where his dissertation was on the fracture mechanics of long-fiber polymer composites. Ian is currently serving on the Board for the Society of Plastics Engineers Composites Division as the chair elect.