Abstract: The present invention provides an electrically conductive sheet molding compound composition adapted for electrostatic painting comprising a resin mixture including about 20 to about 60% by weight of thermoplastic resin based on the total weight of said resin mixture, the thermoplastic resin being selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene rubber, polystyrene, saturated polyester resin, and mixtures thereof; fibrous reinforcing material; and conductive material. The conductive material is added to the sheet molding compound composition in a sufficient quantity to render an article molded with said composition with structural integrity and electrically conductive enough to be electrostatically painted.

Abstract: A discrete transform image data compression system in which frequency transform coefficients are modified in accordance with a matrix of quantizer values employs a predefined plurality of quantization matrices to adaptively select, on a document-by-document basis, an approximate memory packet size for each document's compressed image data storage by selecting one of the plurality of quantization matrices in accordance with the packet size estimate obtained for each document image. Additionally, the system employs generation of contrast reduction and gray level stretch remapping curves as a function of global image data characteristics, such as a gray level histogram of the document image data. The remapping curves are utilized to preprocess the image data for more effective data compression.

Abstract: Molded articles prepared from flexible sheet molding compounds, and method of making the same. A flexibility modifying agent is incorporated into a thermoset resin composition (e.g. sheet molding compound) to improve the flexibility characteristics of the thermoset resin composition by lowering the flexural modulus. The thermoset resin composition also contains therein an isocyanate terminated urethane prepolymer; a thickening agent; a catalyst; a fibrous reinforcing material; and an inert filler.

Abstract: Molded articles prepared from flexible sheet molding compounds, and method of making the same. A flexibility modifying agent is incorporated into a thermoset resin composition (e.g. sheet molding compound) to improve the flexiblity characteristics of the thermoset resin compositon by lowering the flexural modulus. The thermoset resin composition also contains therein an isocyanate terminated urethane prepolymer; a thickening agent; a catalyst; a fibrous reinforcing material; and an inert filler.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery and development of a novel class of phase stabilization additives for thermoset polyester resins. The use of these materials imparts improved glass read out and superior homogeneity when compared to art-disclosed systems thus producing an overall improved Class A quality thermoset polyester resin surface finish for a variety of products.The phase-stabilizing agents or additives of the present invention comprise a select group of compounds from three classes: fatty acids, dimer acids, and polyester polyols. More specifically, the phase-stabilizing agents of the present invention comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of:(i) a saturated or unsaturated C.sub.5 to C.sub.28 fatty acid;(ii) a C.sub.20 to C.sub.54 dimer acid or trimer acid; or(iii) a polyester polyol having an average molecular weight of about 200 to about 6,500.

Abstract: A tank tread pad and composition for making. A tank tread pad is formed from a polymeric material which is formed by an inter penetrating polymer network comprising a first urethane component and a second resinous component which cures under different conditions and is substantially unreactive with the urethane. A fiberous reinforcement is present in the cured resinous material.

Abstract: An isocyanate terminated urethane prepolymer composition having an equivalent ratio of NCO to OH from about 1.2/1 to about 5/1. The isocyanate terminated urethane prepolymer acts as dual functional additive and is prepared by reacting one equivalent weight of a polyol having an average molecular weight of about 600 to about 4,000 and an average functionality of about 2 to about 6 and preferably 2 to 3 and most preferably 2 and 1.2 to 5 equivalents of polyisocyanate and preferably two equivalent weights of polyisocyanate, and preferably a diisocyanate, whereby the reactants combine in a one-step addition process to yield an isocyanate terminated urethane prepolymer of controlled molecular weight to impart improved low shrink, dynamic impact, molding characteristics as measured by viscosity index properties in thermoset polyester resin products, and particularly sheet molding compositions (SMC) by covalently bonding to the polyester resin matrix of the SMC.