Abstract: A method of building viscosity in a sheet molding composition is provided that includes a thickening agent of at least one of magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium oxide, calcium hydroxides, zinc oxide, borates, aluminum ion chelates, aluminum trihydrate, polyphosphate, epoxides being mixed into a phenolic resin liquid or solution that includes novolac resin. An initial viscosity results for the mixture. The viscosity builds from the initial viscosity to 36 hours, from 36 to 142 hours, and then from 142 hours to 176 hours to define a slope ratio of viscosities in these time ranges of 1.5-8:1:?0.4-2 and a having terminal viscosity as measured at 176 hours. Alternatively, the initial viscosity is between 500 and 50,000 centiPoise (cP) and at 24 hours thereafter builds to between 1 million to 50 million cP, and the terminal viscosity thereafter of between 10 million and 200 million cP.

Abstract: A sheet molding compound (SMC) composition formulation including a curable resin, such as unsaturated polyester of vinyl ester, in an ethylenically unsaturated monomer; a low profile additive, in a curable solvent; and an intumescent additive, such as melamine polyphosphate or ethylene diamine phosphate. An article formed of the SMC composition formulation experiences no more than a 100% increase in thickness as compared to an initial thickness of the article after exposure to a flame. The low profile additive is present in the composition and the intumescent additive is present in the composition. The resulting article has a char strength at 3 mm thickness of between 100 and 1,000 Newtons.

Abstract: A method of building viscosity in a sheet molding composition is provided that includes a thickening agent of at least one of magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium oxide, calcium hydroxides, zinc oxide, borates, aluminum ion chelates, aluminum trihydrate, polyphosphate, epoxides being mixed into a phenolic resin liquid or solution that includes novolac resin. An initial viscosity results for the mixture. The viscosity builds from the initial viscosity to 36 hours, from 36 to 142 hours, and then from 142 hours to 176 hours to define a slope ratio of viscosities in these time ranges of 1.5-8:1:-0.4-2 and a having terminal viscosity as measured at 176 hours. Alternatively, the initial viscosity is between 500 and 50,000 centiPoise (cP) and at 24 hours thereafter builds to between 1 million to 50 million cP, and the terminal viscosity thereafter of between 10 million and 200 million cP.

Abstract: Methods for forming channels within a substrate include molding a sacrificial component directly into the substrate and igniting the sacrificial component to deflagrate of the sacrificial component and form a channel in the substrate. The sacrificial component can include oxidizing agents such as chlorates, perchlorates, nitrates, dichromates, nitramides, and/or sulfates imbedded in a polymeric matrix, and the oxidizing agents can be 30 wt. % to 80 wt. % of the sacrificial component. The sacrificial component can further include one or more of unoxidized metal powder fuels, flammable gas-filled polymeric bubbles, one or more metallocenes and/or one or more metal oxide particles, one or more polymers with nitroester, nitro, azido, and/or nitramine functional groups, one or more burn rate suppressants such as oxamide, ammonium sulphate, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, and ammonium chloride, and non-combustible hollow bubbles and/or inert particles.

Abstract: Methods for forming channels within a substrate include molding a sacrificial component directly into the substrate and igniting the sacrificial component to deflagrate of the sacrificial component and form a channel in the substrate. The sacrificial component can include oxidizing agents such as chlorates, perchlorates, nitrates, dichromates, nitramides, and/or sulfates imbedded in a polymeric matrix, and the oxidizing agents can be 30 wt. % to 80 wt. % of the sacrificial component. The sacrificial component can further include one or more of unoxidized metal powder fuels, flammable gas-filled polymeric bubbles, one or more metallocenes and/or one or more metal oxide particles, one or more polymers with nitroester, nitro, azido, and/or nitramine functional groups, one or more burn rate suppressants such as oxamide, ammonium sulphate, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, and ammonium chloride, and non-combustible hollow bubbles and/or inert particles.