Glass mat thermoplastic (GMT) are used to manufacture large structural components by hot-flow compression molding, especially for automotive applications. GMT consists of glass fiber and thermoplastic that are blended together to produce intermediary compound. The glass mat thermoplastic offers numerous advantages such as durability, resistance to corrosion, elasticity, impact resistance, and can prove as an alternative to metals such as steel and aluminum, which are comparatively heavier. These materials are widely used in various end-use industries, such as aerospace/defence, electrical/electronics, consumer goods, transportation, and automotive. Automotive industry is one of the major contributors to increase in demand of lightweight and durable materials, such as glass mat thermoplastic.
Compared to other structural materials, glass mat thermoplastic provides very good strength, stiffness, sound damping, and impact performance at relatively low cost and mass. Extremely high productivity, full recyclability, and high degree of functional integration and geometrical complexity are some of the other advantages of GMT. GMT is a revolutionary Thermoplastic material, which provides superior thermal characteristics than injected molded thermoplastics because of the increased residual thickness of the glass fibers. It is most commonly used in automobile applications for windshields, bumpers, and other structural components because of its superior structural, tensile strength, and weather-resistant feature.
The product can withstand extreme temperatures, making it a popular choice for hot vehicle applications. It also has excellent resistance to impacts and corrosion, which makes it the perfect solution for windshields that are frequently exposed to the harsh weather conditions. Although GMT does not offer the same tensile strength or toughness as injection molded thermoplastic alternatives, and still it is considered to be an effective solution because it has superior fire retardant properties and self-cleaning and moisture-resistant properties. There are several benefits to using glass mat thermoplastics in the context of auto applications.
Glass mat thermoplastic achieves better mechanical properties compared to injection molded and reinforced thermoplastic alternatives because it has greater residual length. Residual length refers to the period during which the product is able to maintain its shape without any external force impeding its functionality. Thermoplastic materials typically shatter after only about 100 hours of use, after which internal pressure and temperature rise cause them to collapse. Glass mat thermoplastics have a much longer retention time, thereby ensuring that the material will retain its shape for much longer than typical thermoplastic alternatives.
Advanced glass mat thermoplastic is the most widely used material, owing to its lightweight nature as compared to traditional glass mat thermoplastics.
GMTs are durable materials with ease of recyclability. Moreover, glass mat thermoplastics provide high innovation potential with respect to material properties, processing, production, and ecological demands. In the aerospace and automotive industries, GMTs are widely used to manufacture complex parts by integrating functional elements, which results in reduction of assembly costs. Metals such iron and aluminum when replaced with GMT help reduce the overall weight of the structure. The use of GMT has increased considerably in the electrical and electronics industry unpaid to its durability and lightweight property. The automotive industry is one of the largest end-users of glass mat thermoplastics.
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