EN 12576:1998

Plastics - Fibre reinforced composites - Preparation of compression moulded test plates of SMC, BMC and DMC

This european standard specifies the general principles and procedures for the preparation of compression moulded test plates from fibre reinforced thermo- setting moulding compounds such as Sheet Moulding Compound (SMC), Bulk Moulding Compound (BMC) and Dough Moulding Compound (DMC). The purpose of this European Standard is to specify the preparation of flat test plates from which test specimens can be machined (for applicable test purposes see informative Annex A). Test plates are being manufactured to give representative results by the different test procedures using specimens machined out of these test plates.

Kunststoffe - Faserverstärkte Verbundwerkstoffe - Herstellung von formgepreßten Prüfplatten aus SMC, BMC und DMC

Diese Europäische Norm legt die Grundlagen und Verfahren zur Herstellung von formgepreßten Prüfplatten aus faserverstärkten härbaren Formmassen, wie z.B. Harzmatten (SMC), fasrigen Premix-Massen (BMC) und teigigen Premix-Preßmassen (DMC), fest. Der Zweck dieser Europäischen Norm besteht darin, die Herstellung ebener Prüfplatten festzulegen, aus denen Probekörper maschinell hergestellt werden können (bezüglich anwendbarer Prüfverfahren siehe den informativen Anhang A).

Plastiques - Composites renforcés de fibres - Préparation de plaques d'essais de SMC, BMC et DMC pour moulage par compression

la présente norme européenne spécifie les principes et méthodes généraux rela- tifs à la préparation de plaques d'essai par moulage par compression, à partir de compositions de moulage thermodurcissables renforcées de fibres, tels que le Sheet Moulding Compounds (SMC), le Bulk Moulding Compounds (BMC) et le Dough Moulding Compounds (DMC). La présente norme européenne a pour objet de spécifier la fabrication de plaques d'essai planes à partir desquelles peuvent être usinées les éprouvettes (en ce qui concerne les essais applicables, voir l'annexe A informative).

Polimerni materiali – Kompoziti, ojačeni z vlakni – Priprava preskušancev iz SMC, BMC in DMC v obliki plošč s stiskanjem

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 19-May-1998
• Withdrawal Date: 29-Nov-1998
• ICS: 83.120 - Reinforced plastics
• ICS: 83.140.10 - Films and sheets
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 249 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 249/SC 2/WG 3 - Prepregs - Composites with random reinforcements
• Current Stage: 9093 - Decision to confirm - Review Enquiry
• Start Date: 21-Nov-2023
• Completion Date: 11-Feb-2026
• Ref Project: SIST EN 12576:1999 - Plastics - Fibre reinforced composites - Preparation of compression moulded test plates of SMC, BMC and DMC

Relations

• Refers: EN ISO 12115:1997 - Fibre-reinforced plastics - Thermosetting moulding compounds and prepregs - Determination of flowability, maturation and shelf life (ISO 12115:1997)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Refers: EN 434:1994 - Resilient floor coverings - Determination of dimensional stability and curling after exposure to heat
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Refers: EN 1842:1997 - Plastics - Thermoset moulding compounds (SMC - BMC) - Determination of compression moulding shrinkage
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026

Overview

EN 12576:1998 is a European standard published by CEN that outlines the general principles and procedures for preparing compression moulded test plates from fibre reinforced thermo-setting moulding compounds. These materials include Sheet Moulding Compound (SMC), Bulk Moulding Compound (BMC), and Dough Moulding Compound (DMC). The standard enables manufacturers and laboratories to create flat test plates suitable for machining into test specimens. By following EN 12576:1998, users ensure reproducible and representative results in subsequent material testing of fibre reinforced composites.

Key Topics

• Fibre Reinforced Composites: Covers the processing of plastics reinforced with fibres to improve mechanical performance.
• Thermo-setting Moulding Compounds: Focuses on SMC, BMC, and DMC - all widely used in the production of composite materials.
• Compression Moulded Test Plates: Defines procedures for consistently producing flat plates for extraction of test specimens.
• Testing Consistency: Ensures specimens machined from plates are representative for various tests, facilitating reliable comparison of material properties.
• Machining of Specimens: Allows standardization in preparing specimens for mechanical and physical property evaluation.

Applications

EN 12576:1998 is key in ensuring reliable production and assessment of fibre reinforced plastic composites used in various industries. Typical applications include:

• Automotive: Testing the mechanical performance of parts manufactured from SMC, BMC, or DMC, such as body panels, bumpers, or interior components.
• Electrical and Electronics: Preparing and testing materials used in insulators, enclosures, and switchgear.
• Construction: Validating the properties of composite materials for use in wall panels, structural parts, and other building components.
• Manufacturing Quality Control: Standardized test plates enable manufacturers to monitor batch consistency and meet material specifications.
• Research and Development: Facilitates the comparison of new fibre reinforced formulations or alternative moulding compounds under defined conditions.

By specifying uniform preparation methods for test plates, EN 12576 enhances the quality and repeatability of test results across laboratories and industries.

Related Standards

For comprehensive testing and manufacturing of fibre reinforced plastics, the following standards are often used in conjunction:

• EN ISO 178: Plastics - Determination of flexural properties
• EN ISO 527: Plastics - Determination of tensile properties
• EN ISO 3167: Plastics - Multipurpose test specimens
• EN ISO 6603: Plastics - Determination of puncture impact behaviour of rigid plastics
• ISO 1268: Fibre-reinforced plastics - Preparation of test plates

Using EN 12576:1998 alongside these related standards ensures that all stages of testing, from specimen preparation to final evaluation, are aligned with international best practices for fibre reinforced composites.

Keywords: EN 12576:1998, fibre reinforced composites, SMC, BMC, DMC, compression moulded test plates, plastics standards, composite material testing, CEN, thermo-setting moulding compounds, specimen preparation, manufacturing quality control.

Standards Content (Sample)

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Kunststoffe - Faserverstärkte Verbundwerkstoffe - Herstellung von formgepreßten Prüfplatten aus SMC, BMC und DMCPlastiques - Composites renforcés de fibres - Préparation de plaques d'essais de SMC, BMC et DMC pour moulage par compressionPlastics - Fibre reinforced composites - Preparation of compression moulded test plates of SMC, BMC and DM
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