IDI Composites offers Fortium SMC and QISO in a chemically matched prepreg for use in high stress areas with complex geometries. By inserting layers of 0°, +/-60° QISO, useage of SMC can be decreased – increasing strength, and reducing mass, cost and waste.
Fortium™ is discontinuous fiber-reinforced composite with field proven resilience to UV radiation and chemicals. QISO® is a 0°, +/-60° fabric providing increased strength, impact resistance, and ease of manufacture. QISO is balanced and symmetric in a single layer so cutting is not a concern and nesting is optimized. Co-molding Fortium™ and QISO® optimizes part performance and minimizes waste.
The Combination
Fortium SMC and Fortium QISO have the same fiber loading by weight simplifying design parameters, ie. for high stress areas one layer of QISO can be used to replace one layer of SMC until mechanical requirements are met.
Fortium QISO cuts as easily as SMC, lays in the tool the same way and cures the same – simplifying manufacture of parts. QISO’s quasi-isotropic architecture has the same properties in every direction, so nesting is improved further minimizing waste.
Fortium QISO enables the production of lighter, higher performing parts and can be molded in both simple and complex geometries. In the example below, key stress areas of a truck bed typically manufactured using only SMC were produced using Fortium QISO.
Two QISO charges were laid over SMC on the B side of a deep draw tool. Even though the SMC was laid down first, the QISO stayed in place allowing the SMC to fully flow around it.
Preliminary trials of Fortium QISO were also conducted in larger scale tooling further demonstrating its moldability to create rib structures and its ability to conform to complex structures.
| Property | Fortium F250-UV (SMC) | Fortium QISO |
|---|---|---|
| Glass Fiber | 48-52% | 48-52% |
| Specific Gravity | 1.7 – 1.8 | 1.7 – 1.8 |
| Sheet Weight | 5.4 kg/m2 | 2 kg/m2 |
Performance
Impact Testing of an SMC baseline panel and a 20% thinner SMC panel reinforced with QISO shows major improvement with Fortium QISO:
- Same Tensile Strength
- 25% Higher Flex Strength
- Improved Impact Resistance
Fortium QISO Improves Part Performance, Reduces Part Thickness and Conforms to Complex Geometries
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