SIST EN ISO 12115:1999

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST EN ISO 12115:1999
01-maj-1999
=YODNQLRMDþHQLSROLPHUQLPDWHULDOL±'XURPHUQHPDVH]DREOLNRYDQMHLQ
SUHGLPSUHJQLUDQFL±'RORþHYDQMHSUHWRþQRVWL]RUHQMDLQþDVRYQHXSRUDEQRVWL,62

Fibre-reinforced plastics - Thermosetting moulding compounds and prepregs -
Determination of flowability, maturation and shelf life (ISO 12115:1997)
Faserverstärkte Kunststoffe - Härtbare Formmassen und Prepregs - Bestimmung der
Fließfähigkeit, Reifung und Gebrauchsdauer (ISO 12115:1997)
Plastiques renforcés de fibres - Compositions de moulage et préimprégnés -
Détermination de la fluidité, de la maturation et de la durée de vie (ISO 12115:1997)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 12115:1997
ICS:
83.120 2MDþDQLSROLPHUL Reinforced plastics
SIST EN ISO 12115:1999 en
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------

SIST EN ISO 12115:1999

---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------

SIST EN ISO 12115:1999

---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------

SIST EN ISO 12115:1999

---------------------- Page: 4 ----------------------

SIST EN ISO 12115:1999

---------------------- Page: 5 ----------------------

SIST EN ISO 12115:1999

---------------------- Page: 6 ----------------------

SIST EN ISO 12115:1999
IS0
INTERNATIONAL
12115
STANDARD
First edition
1997-05-I 5
Fibre-reinforced plastics - Thermosetting
moulding compounds and prepregs -
Determination of flowability, maturation
and shelf life
Plastiques renforks de fibres - Compositions de moulage
thermodurcissables et pr&mp&gn& - Determination de la fluidit&
de la maturation et de la duke de vie
Reference number
IS0 12115:1997(E)

---------------------- Page: 7 ----------------------

SIST EN ISO 12115:1999
ISO12115:1997(E)
Page
Contents
iv
. . . . . . . . .*.~.
Introduction
1
........................................................................................
1 Scope
1
................................................................
2 Normative references
2
..................................................................................
3 Definitions
2
4 General .
3
..................................................................................
5 Apparatus
4
6 Sampling .
5
...............................................................................
7 Conditioning
5
8 Test specimens .
5
9 Procedure .
6
.................................................................
10 Expression of results
7
11 Precision .
8
.................................................................................
12 Test report
0 IS0 1997
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced
.
or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and
microfilm, without permission in writing from the publisher.
International Organization for Standardization
Case postale 56 l CH-1211 Geneve 20 l Switzerland
Internet central @ iso.ch
x.400 c=ch; a=4OOnet; p=iso; o=isocs; s=central
Printed in Switzerland
ii

---------------------- Page: 8 ----------------------

SIST EN ISO 12115:1999
@ IS0 ISO12115:1997(E)
IS0 (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide
federation of national standards bodies (IS0 member bodies). The work of
preparing llnternationat Standards is normally carried out through IS0
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which
a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented
on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-
governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. IS0
collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission
(IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are
circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an International
Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting
a vote.
International Standard IS0 12115 was prepared by Technical Committee
lSO/TC 61, Plastics, Subcommittee SC 13, Composites and reinforcement
fibres.

---------------------- Page: 9 ----------------------

SIST EN ISO 12115:1999
IS0 12115:1997(E)
@ IS0
Introduction
The flowabil
ity of a moulding compound is a property which describes the
ability of the compound to fill a mould cavity during the moulding operation.
The flowability varies with the age of the moulding compound due to the
occurrence of a thickening process. This so-called maturation process is
normally initiated by an additive, the aim being to prevent significant
separation of the components of the moulding compound, and yet ensure
sufficient flow for the moulding compound to be easy to handle and for it to
spread out to fill the whole mould cavity when it is moulded.
When the flowability of a moulding compound has developed to a defined
limit, the compound is said to have reached its matured state. This means
it can be handled and moulded satisfactorily under given operating
conditions.
The maturation and shelf life are determined from flowability measure-
ments. The flowability is measured at several different points in time after
production of the moulding compound, and the change in flowability plotted
as a function of time. The shelf life of the moulding compound is
determined by assessing the ease of handling and moulding behaviour as
given by the flowability. Experience indicates that in some cases shelf life
may also be dependent on the cure characteristics of the moulding com-
pound (see IS0 12114).
Maturation and shelf life are not parameters in their own right. For a
particular moulding compound, the shelf life, for instance, may even differ
from one set of moulding conditions to another and from one application to
the next.

---------------------- Page: 10 ----------------------

SIST EN ISO 12115:1999
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD @ Iso IS0 12115:1997(E)
Fibre-reinforced plastics - Thermosetting moulding compounds
Determination of flowability*maturation and shelf
and prepregs -
life
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies two methods for the determination of the flowability of fibre-reinforced
thermosetting moulding compounds and prepregs. The methods apply to all fibre-reinforced thermosetting moulding
compounds and differ in the test conditions and the apparatus required.
The methods may be used to assess the influence of individual components of the moulding compound on the
moulding behaviour by determining the flowability of the compound. They are also suitable for quality control
purposes, as well as the development of moulding compound formulations.
The major field of application is with moulding compounds based on unsaturated polyester (UP) resins.
Method I is a flowability test carried out at room temperature. Conducting the test at room temperature reduces the
effect on the results of changes is the temperature of the moulding compound during the test.
Method II is a flowability test carried out under commonly used moulding conditions. In addition, the plate produced
may be used for further testing.
2 Normative references
The following standards contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of’ this
International Standard. At the time of publication, the editions indicated were valid. All standards are subject to
revision, and parties to agreements based on this International Standard are encouraged to investigate the
possibility of applying the most recent editions of the standards indicated below. Members of IEC and IS0 maintain
registers of currently valid International Standards.
IS0 472:1988, Plastics - Vocabulary.
IS0 86051989, Textile glass reinforced plastics - Sheet moulding compound (SMC) - Basis for a specification.
IS0 8606:1990, Plastics - Prepregs - Bulk moulding compound (BMC) and dough moulding compound (DMC) -
Basis for a specification.
IS0 12114: 1997, Fibre-reinforced plastics - Thermosetting moulding compounds and prepregs - Determination of
curing behaviour.

---------------------- Page: 11 ----------------------

SIST EN ISO 12115:1999
@ IS0
IS0 12115:1997(E)
3 Definitions
For the purposes of this International Standard, the terms and definitions given in IS0 472, IS0 8605 and IS0 8606
apply, plus the following definitions:
3.1 flowability: The time-depending ability of a thermosetting moulding compound to flow and fill the cavity of a
given mould under given conditions.
3.2 maturation: The process of thickening of thermosetting moulding compounds to a given level of flowability
without significant separation of the components.
3.3 matured state: The level of thickening at which the flowability of a thermosetting compound is such that it can
be handled and moulded satisfactorily under given operating conditions.
3.4 shelf life: The period after production of a thermosetting compound during which the flowability remains at a
level at which the compound can be moulded without the need to make significant changes in the moulding
conditions from those normally used.
3.5 elementary unit: The smallest normally commercially available entity of a given product. The description
(form, dimensions, mass, etc.) of the elementary unit will normally be defined in the product specification.
Elementary units may be supplied in the form of rolls or packages, for instance.
NOTE - For a given product, the dimensions, mass or volume of the elementary unit may change, as manufacturing
techniques evolve. without necessarily causing any modification in the properties of the product or the way in which these
properties vary within the elementary unit.
4 General
4.1 Method I
This method calls for an unconstrained test specimen to be subjected to a constant load by a punch. The specimen
is caused to flow to the side, and the change in height of the punch as it sinks is measured (see figure 1).
Fibre-reinforced moulding compounds exhibit a change in flowability during a flow process, due to their non-
Newtonian behaviour. Two values are therefore needed to express the flowability of a moulding compound, one
value expressing the instantaneous flowability and the other the change in flowability due to the non-Newtonian
behaviour of the compound.
The vertical motion of the punch depends on the flowability of the moulding compound and on the applied load.
A moulding compound is considered as being suitably tested if its flowability is such that, after a load application
period of 45 s, the punch has sunk to a level between 30 % and 70 % of the original thickness of the specimen. The
test load is therefore selected to meet this condition.
By carrying out the test at suitable intervals after production, the maturation thickening process can be analysed,
in particular the point at which this process levels out and the point at which the compound ceases to be mouldable
without significant changes in the moulding conditions, the difference between these two points being the shelf life.
NOTE - For unsaturated polyester resin, the dependence of this thickening on temperature is a non-linear one.
Consequently, the results of tests at room temperature may not accurately reflect the performance of the material at the actual
moulding conditions.
2

---------------------- Page: 12 ----------------------

SIST EN ISO 12115:1999
@ IS0
IS0 12115:1997(E)
4.2 Method II
This method calls for a test specimen to be moulded in a heated mould in a press under the normally used
production conditions. The method is designed to determine the force necessary for the specimen to spread out and
fill the mould within a certain time.
A given mass of sheet moulding compound, cut to the required size, or bulk moulding compound is placed in the
centre of the mould cavity. The moulding compound is then caused to flow and is cured at the required pressure
and temperature. The mould closing force is chosen such that filling of the cavity takes IO s + 5 s.
It is important that the curing process has no effect on the flowability of the moulding compound during the time in
which the compound is filling the mould. For fast-curing compounds, therefore, a filling time of 10 s may be too long,
and a filling time of 5 s may be required.
During the moulding process, the mould closing force and the pressure in the moulding compound at the centre and
at the rim of the cavity are measured with sensors and recorded as a function of time (see figure 2). An assessment
of the flowability (i.e. whether it is acceptable or not) is then made from the curves thus produced.
Comparison of flowability assessments from different tests requires consistent moulding conditions For results to
be comparable, any change in moulding conditions shall be restricted to the mould closing force.
NOTE - The aim of this method is to gain the most extensive information possible about the flowability of a moulding
compound during the filling of the mould cavity. However, it is also possible,
...