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Sheet molding compound having improved characteristics
A composite part made from a sheet molding compound is disclosed as having improved characteristics over traditional sheet molding compound composite parts. The fibrous material is introduced as a veil layer adjacent a paste layer, the veil flows well during the molding process. The improved flow and surface characteristics of a composite part are attributed to the elongation of the veil during molding and to the improved filling capabilities.
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The present invention claims priority from Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/328,860 entitled "Sheet Molding Compound Having Improved Characteristics," filed Oct. 12, 2001.TECHNICAL FIELD AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to reinforced fiber composites and more specifically to sheet molding compounds having improved characteristics.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the manufacture of fiber reinforced resin products, sheet molding compounds are frequently used. Sheet molding compounds offer an appealing solution for the production of Class A surface parts compared to steel in terms of cost, weight, styling flexibility and corrosion resistance.
Sheet molding compounds consist of a mixture of a thermosetting resin, a thermoplastic (typically dissolved in styrene) and catalyst, particulate filler and chopped reinforcement fibers, such as glass fibers. In most cases, the resin and chopped fibers are sandwiched between films of plastic material to form a laminated sheet that is wound in rolled form or festooned for storage. The laminated sheet is stored under conditions that will not result in final curing of the resin, but will allow the paste to thicken from typically a 10,000 to 40,000 centipoise (milliPascal seconds-mPa·s) range to a desired molding viscosity range, typically between 30,000,000 and 50,000,000 centipoise (mPa·s). At the time of use, the protective carrier film is removed and the laminated sheet is cut into blanks, or plies, of a desired shape and size. The plies are then molded to form a cured composite part. In most applications, multiple plies of the laminated sheets are used in the composite structure and typically comprise between 25 and 50% of the die/tool's surface area. When the laminated sheets are molded, the resin and glass flow within the mold under heat and pressure to cover the entire surface of the mold. Sheet molding compounds are used in a variety of applications that require aesthetic appeal, corrosion resistance, lighter weight dimensional control and high strength.
One deficiency with currently available sheet molding compounds is that the charge may not form a Class A type surface part when molded and cured. This is due to the fact that sometimes the chopped fibers move to the surface of the sheet molding compound to form surface imperfections. Further, the sheet molding compound sometimes does not flow well in the mold, especially if it is loaded incorrectly, and this creates surface imperfections such as surface pores. Thus, some SMC composite parts may be scrapped, or require sanding and repair, or must otherwise be reworked to be used in applications requiring a desired surface appearance.
Yet another problem with surface characteristics occurs when these composite parts formed from the sheet molding plies are painted. Paint pops may be caused by the release of volatile liquids (such as water, styrene or di-vinyl benzene monomer) from the sheet molding paste or by the release of moisture or solvents contained in the resin or within/around fiber bundles during the curing process. These are quite common, typically affecting 5–10% or more of painted SMC composite parts, leading to substantial cost in terms of rework and waste.
In addition, to allow a long and uniform flow that will produce a wave-free surface, the fibers used in sheet molding compounds are typically provided by the glass manufacturer as bundles or "splits" of multiple filaments. The act of impregnating the bed of chopped fibers between two layers of sheet molding compound paste often leaves air trapped within the composite sheet, often beside or between the bundles, where small differences in surface tension adversely affects the wetting of the bundles or splits. Unfortunately, this bundling may also include entrapped air which, when released during the flow, produces tiny bubbles which travel slowly under a pressure gradient. To evacuate these bubbles, it is useful to have the molding compound flow to fill out the tool to allow the action of the pressure gradients to move those air bubbles towards the edge of the flow front and thus towards the edge of the part. Such large flow typically calls for loading the tool by a charge representing 50% or less of the area of the part. Others have shown that molding under vacuum may aid in the removal of extraneous gases.
In addition, the flow of the various stacked sheets in the charge is not homogeneous. The sheets in the center of the stack flow more slowly than those in contact with the tool (mold). This does not allow the use of special treatment to the top layer to solve the problem of paint popping.
Another problem with currently available sheet molding compounds is that they are difficult to paint along with steel parts in a conventional assembly line painting system. Typically, composite parts require the use of a conductive primer applied prior to the application of an ornamental surface paint. To improve electrostatic sprayability, conductive materials have been introduced to sheet molding compounds. However, typical sheet molding compounds require large amounts of conductive materials to be introduced in order to improve surface conductivity enough to be effectively electrostatically sprayable. This increases raw material costs and can decrease surface quality associated with increased fiber loading.
One potential way to produce sheet molding compounds has been to locally sandwich a small piece of wet process textile mat, instead of chopped fibers, in a localized area between layers of sheet molding compound paste and molding the resultant laminate into a composite part. However, the fiber contained within a conventional wet process textile veil mat does not flow well under pressure, and is not intended to do so. Thus, the composite parts formed by this process have similar poor surface characteristics as composite parts formed with chopped fibers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,499 illustrates a method of making a moldable composite, including the steps of providing a fabric material on the outside of an SMC sheet, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 of the '499 patent, to provide corrosion resistance and avoid fiber read-through. In the '499 patent, the resin flows through the veil during molding to form a resin-rich layer on the outside of the veil, but no resin is provided on the outside of the veil. Additionally, the '499 patent indicates the properties of the veil are critical, and describes these properties to include that the veil must be permeable so the resin flows through the veil during the molding process and that the veil must posses a grab break strength of at least ten pounds per inch in both longitudinal and transverse directions so as to avoid tearing during compression molding. Thus, the '499 patent includes a system as shown in FIG. 2, where the veil is draped over the entire tool surface, and the veil is strong enough to remain intact without tearing, while the veil does not apparently flow with the resin during molding. The second embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is further described in Example 1, and uses a synthetic fabric (Nexus), capable of substantial elongation, but which is molded at relatively low temperature (275 F), and which provides the fabric on the outer surface of the resin, and where the resin flows through the veil during molding. The '499 patent does not teach a method for making a Class A surface part.
A further deficiency in the current technology is that sheet weight is limited due to the currently available manufacturing techniques. Typically resin, or sheet molding paste, is applied to two carrier film layers using a doctor blade, and a layer of chopped glass or glass mat is sandwiched between the two resin-coated layers to form a composite sheet. One such sheet molding compounding line is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,251,974 to Rossi et al., which is herein incorporated by reference. Another such sheet molding compounding line is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,103,032 and 6,119,750 to Greve, assigned to the Budd Company, which are herein incorporated by reference. The use of doctor blades, usually an upside down weir blade, to apply the sheet molding paste allows only two layers of sheet molding paste to be used, since the prior art teaches that a carrier film passes below the doctor blade to form each layer of paste, and this carrier film must be at the outside of the sheet to be removed and disposed prior to molding. Accordingly, because there is only two resin layers, the need to penetrate the sheet molding paste through the fiber package while maintaining proper paste/fiber distribution limits the thickness achievable. Thus, in the prior art, several layers of the composite sheet are required to be placed in a tool to provide a charge having the desired amount of material for the composite part.
Yet another deficiency in the current technology is that sheet weight is inconsistent. This is attributed to the viscosity changes in the sheet molding paste attributed to thickening and the use of doctor blade or other paste dispensing devices as metering tools whose throughput rates are dependent upon the viscosity of the metered media. Consequently, in order to manufacture a part having a constant weight and volume, the charge size must be adjusted from part to part, which leads to inconsistencies in flow and performance of composite parts.
It is therefore highly desirable to improve the characteristics of sheet molding compound. This would allow sheet molding compound parts to be used in a wider variety of composite applications wherein surface quality as well as scrap and rework is a concern.
It is thus also highly desirable to improve the electrostatic sprayability of composite parts made of sheet molding compounds.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is thus an object of the present invention to improve the physical and surface characteristics and electrostatic sprayability of composites parts made of sheet molding compound composite sheets.
The above object may be accomplished by replacing all or a portion of the fibrous material introduced as chopped fibers or a mat with a wet process textile mat having unique soft and lofted, or irregularly shaped, non-continuous fibrous material that flows well during the molding process. The improved flow is attributed to the unkinking of the fibrous material. This also provides a barrier layer that keeps reinforcement bundles from migrating to the surface of the composite part.
By introducing a plurality of conductive material to the mat having the irregularly shaped fibers, an electrostatically sprayable composite part having improved surface characteristics made of sheet molding compound may be realized.
Another feature of the present invention includes a new and unique way of introducing the sheet molding paste to a sheet molding compound via a simple volumetric extrusion paste delivery systems compared with traditional doctor box systems. This allows for several paste layers to be introduced on a single compounding line. Further, this embodiment also allows thicker composite sheets to be produced since the paste layer is not required to go through the entire sheet thickness. This also allows for the manufacture of composite parts from a single composite sheet, or charge, which can cover most of the mold's surface. Alternatively, a composite part can be made with a top layer of the thicker sheet molding composite sheet of the present invention and other layers of conventional sheet molding compound.
This also allows for the manufacture of a composite part in which the top layer is specifically constituted to be void free and to follow the "plug" flow of the unique underlying charge to cover entire visible Class A surface of the part. With this pore free layer, the need for a long flow of the sheet to expel air is suppressed.
Also, the present invention provides sheet molding compound composite sheets having specially built layers within a single compounding line. For example, composite sheets and molded composite parts can be provided having special surface attributes such as improved surface conductivity, ultraviolet light stabilized surfaces, colored surfaces, enhanced crashworthiness and the like. Further, the present invention allows the use of recycled materials or low density core materials that function to decrease cost and weight. Further, by introducing a veil as described above, a barrier layer that keeps reinforcement bundles from migrating to the surface of the composite part can be achieved.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon considering the following detailed description and appended claims, and upon reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring now to
The barrier layer serves to avoid the passage of volatile liquids or gases through the paste layer to the surface, and which would otherwise form resultant voids or pockets at (or close to) the surface of the part. The uniformly reinforced barrier layer moreover prevents the formation of cracks at the surface, which are another type if site for solvents to be adsorbed. The pockets and cracks are responsible in part for the paint pops, as these defects retain volatiles primarily from the paint which boil off and damage the paint surface during the curing of paint applied to the surface. The veil and barrier layer also prevent the underlying reinforcement fibers from reading through to the surface. Preferably, the glass content in the barrier layer (in the form of veil firmaments) comprises about ten percent. The paste may be a commercially available resin for forming a Class A surface, and typically consists of a mixture of a thermosetting resin, a thermoplastic (typically dissolved in styrene) and catalyst, and particulate filler, and may optionally include other ingredients, such as fine chopped reinforcement fibers, such as glass fibers, pigments or dies, UV light stabilizing additives, elastomers, and other chemicals. Preferably the combined veil and paste layer has a substantially constant thickness and glass content across the molded part, or at least a gradual variation in thickness and glass content, so as to minimize variation in shrinkage and therefore minimize waviness of the Class A surface of the molded part.
In another preferred embodiment, as shown in
In yet another preferred embodiment, as depicted in
The composition of the first paste layer 104 and second paste layer 110 are normally typical formulations of sheet molding compound material without fibrous reinforcement for forming a Class A SMC part as are well known in the art. They consist essentially of polyester and thermoplastic resins, catalyst, internal mold release agents, inorganic fillers, and one or more thickening agents. For example, these pastes used in layers 104, 110 may be prepared having a composition as described below in Table 1. Alternatively, the paste layers 104, 110 could have a composition similar to what is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,089,544 to Ross et al., which is herein incorporated by reference. A vacuum degassing device is used to remove air trapped in the paste before application. One such vacuum degassing device is known as a "Versator," manufactured by The Cornell Machine Company. Alternatively, the trapped air or gas might be removed using a process described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,218,458 to Vidaurre, which is herein incorporated by reference. Alternatively, the paste layers not providing the barrier layer (i.e. other than 104) could comprise another SMC paste having different characteristics than the top layer 104, including paste not capable of providing a Class A surface.
In a preferred embodiment, the veil 106 comprises irregularly shaped fibers 108, which are preferably non-continuous glass fibers that can take on a wide variety of shapes. For example, some fibers 108 may be helically shaped while others may be curled or bent in any other number of ways. The irregularly shaped fibers 108 exhibit better flow than is found in the straight fibers of the prior art during press molding to form a sheet molding compound sheet 177 and to form cured composite part. This results in better surface characteristics of cured composite parts in a wide variety of unique shapes than is available in the prior art. The improved surface characteristics are believed to be a result of the straightening of the fibers 108 and/or the lack of fiber bundles at or near a Class A surface as the sheet molding compound sheets 100 are compacted to form the sheet molding compound 177 and then subsequently heated and compressed to form the composite part. In an alternative embodiment, the irregularly shaped fibers essentially comprise a continuous filament provided in a continuous filament mat or long chopped fibers. Alternatively, the veil comprises a synthetic fiber having adequate strength and elongation to stretch as the sheet is compression molded, while providing a barrier to the reinforcing fibers to prevent fiber read-through at the surface of the barrier layer, and remain intact within the molding process (i.e. not melt to eliminate the veil from adjacent the barrier layer), which typically experiences temperatures of 150–160 degrees C. (300–315 degrees F.), and during the exothermic cure (during cross linking), reaches over 200 degrees C. (390 degrees F.), and may exceed 230 degrees C. (450 degrees F.) for a period of time (20 seconds or more). Preferably the fibers will not melt at 285 degrees C. (545 degrees F.).
The irregularly shaped fiber 108 may be produced in a number of different ways. For example, the fibers can be produced in a variety of processes as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,992 to Houpt et al., which is herein incorporated by reference. In one method disclosed in Houpt et al., the irregularly shaped glass fibers 108 may be produced from a rotary fiber forming process. In this process, molten glass could be supplied from a furnace via forehearths to fiberizers. The fiberizers produce veils of irregularly shaped glass fibers that may be collected on a conveyor by means of a vacuum. As the fibers are blown downward by means of blowers in the fiberizers, they are attenuated and assume their irregular shape.
Alternatively, the non-woven fiber veil 106 having semi-coiled and coiled fibers 108 may be produced as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,935,879; 5,972,166 or 6,054,022 to Helwig et al., which are also herein incorporated by reference. Further alternate commercially available veils, such as Hollingsworth & Vose Co. product numbers 8000064, 8000065, 8000068, 8000069, 8000114 and 8000115, or BGF Industries product numbers 497A, 504, 550, 627, 975, or Holinee LLC products Surmat N-700, Surmat N-751, Surmat N-754, Surmat N-758, Conformat N-701, Conformat N-720, Conformat N-764, Conformat N-780, or Owens Corning product numbers OC9001, OC9002, BF75, BV85, F3540-AE7, F35125P-YH21, F40305-XD31, or Freudenberg Group veils, or Viledon Group veils, may be used with the present invention, or other commercially available mats preferably meeting the solubility and wet elongation requirement.
To achieve the irregularly shaped glass fibers 108 of a preferred veil for the present invention, specific compositions satisfying a number of constraints are required. In Houpt et al., two such fibers 108 are provided which may be used individually or collectively. Preferably, a dual glass irregularly shaped fiber 108 is used, i.e. each fiber is composed of two different glass compositions, glass A and glass B. If one were to make a cross-section of an ideal irregularly shaped glass fiber of the present invention, one half of the fiber 108 would be glass A, with the other half glass B. In reality, a wide range of proportions of the amounts of glass A and glass B may exist in the veil 106, with the percentage of glass A varying from 15–85% by weight and the balance being glass B. In the Houpt et al. reference, glass A comprises a high-borate, low-soda lime-aluminosilicate composition, or glass having a borate content of between approximately 14 and 24% by weight of the total components. Also, glass B comprises a high-soda, low-borate lime-aluminosilicate composition, in which the soda content is between approximately 14 and 25% by weight of the total components.
The glass fibers 108 as described in Houpt et al. are then modified to form the veil 106. The general procedure for preparation of the veil 106 involves first preparing a slurry of irregularly shaped glass textile fibers 108 and organic polymeric binder at a concentration of 0.1 to 4.0% by weight in water. The polymeric binder may be in the form or powder or fiber, or both. Additionally, polyvinyl alcohol may be added to the slurry. The water may contain viscosity modifiers, surfactants, and defoaming agents that are commonly used in the manufacture of wet-laid nonwovens. Proportions of the materials excluding the water in the slurry may be in the range of approximately 10–50% by weight binder fiber, approximately 50 to 90% by weight irregularly shaped glass 108, binder powder, or mixtures thereof, and approximately 0 to 15% by weight polyvinyl alcohol.
After the fibers 108 have been dispersed, the slurry is transferred to the forming section of an inclined-wire Fourdrinier machine and dewatered. The resulting web is passed through an oven to dry the mat and fuse the binder fibers and/or binder powder to the glass fibers 108. A secondary binder may then be applied by saturating the dry mat with a water-based polymer composition and removing the excess with a vacuum slot. The mat is then passed through a second oven where it is again dried and the binder cured to form the veil 106.
Alternatively, a wire cylinder, Stevens Former, Roto Former, Inver Former, or Ventl Former may be used, in which a head box first deposits the slurry onto a moving wire screen. A vacuum or similar suction device removes the water that produces the veil. Conventional ovens perform the fusing and drying steps. As is described above, the irregularly shaped fibers 108 allow a more uniform volume filling than is found in straight fiber mats. Further, the irregularly shaped fibers 108 require less binder material, thus allowing easy flow.
An alternative process used for producing the veil 106 involves first preparing the slurry as described above. Next, the slurry is dewatered to form the wet-laid nonwoven mat. A secondary water-based binder is applied to the wet laid mat, followed by a second dewatering step to remove excess water from the saturated mat. Finally, the mat is placed in an oven to dry and cure the mat to form the finished nonwoven veil 106.
In yet another alternative process, the dried fiber mat may be rolled up prior to the introduction of the secondary water-based binder. The mat is then unrolled at a later time in a separate off-line process to introduce the secondary water-based binder that leads to the finished nonwoven veil 106.
Preferably, the veil is made using a binder that is highly soluble in the monomers provided in the paste, which is typically styrene. Preferably, the such a highly soluble binder has a solubility of over about 35%, more preferably over 50%, more preferably over 75%, and even up to nearly 100%. A preferred method to determine solubility comprises a determination of the amount of sizing that dissolves in acetone using a reflow method using Sohxlet distillation equipment. Such a reflow method preferably comprises a Soxhlet extraction method using 5 consecutive distillations, typically using acetone or styrene for solvent. In this method, a veil coupon is prepared and weighed. A predetermined amount of solvent is distilled in the apparatus and drips over a coupon of the veil to dissolve the binder. The dripped solvent is distilled and this is repeated four times. The veil weight is measured after five drippings, and a burn test is conducted on the veil to determine the residual amount of binder. The ratio of binder is then determined to establish solubility in the solvent. Such a preferred binder will substantially dissolve when the veil is wet out in the paste of the composite sheet, and the remaining fibers will be held within the composite sheet in substantially a sheet form due to the frictional engagement of the fibers and the viscosity of the paste. When such a composite sheet is compression molded, the fibers will straighten out (if not already straight) and slide relatively while the paste flows in the mold. The viscous paste will pull the fibers and cause the fibers to flow substantially in the plane of the mold surface. Frictional engagement between the fibers and the paste viscosity will encourage relatively uniform flow of the veil filaments without leaving holes or tears, and therefore the veil filaments remain in a substantially continuous layer after molding.
Accordingly, the present invention preferably provides a veil which flows relatively uniformly in all directions to ensure substantially uniform distribution of the veil fibers across the part, as the barrier layer including the paste and veil fibers flow in the mold. As described in more detail below, the present invention further ensures that the veil fibers do not relatively separate to form a hole (or "tear") in the veil, and therefore the veil comprises a continuous veil even after molding, and maintains a reasonably consistent thickness across the part. Accordingly, the veil must have elongation in both the length and width thereof, and if the fibers do not have sufficient length to maintain frictional engagement during flow of the combined paste and veil, the fibers may separate and result in holes (or apparent tears) in the veil. Additionally, the irregular shape and/or bends or out-of-plane position of fibers (relative to the horizontal plane of the veil) will contribute to the ability of the veil to apparently stretch or flow. As appreciated by one skilled in the art, the veil will substantially cover the entire surface of the mold adjacent the Class A surface of the molded part, and therefore keep the barrier layer intact, and prevent and underlying reinforcement fibers (bundles) and/or gases from appearing at the surface. Additionally, during (and after) molding, the resin in the paste will form a thin resin-rich layer at the external (Class A) surface of the part on the mold surface and none (or very few) of the veil filaments or reinforcing fibers will be visible under this thin resin rich layer. Preferably the thin resin-rich layer has a thickness of only one to three filament diameters.
Referring now to
As shown in
In another alternative embodiment, as shown in
As shown in
Each batch of compacted sheet molding compound sheet 177 is then allowed to mature and thicken thereby increasing viscosity at either room temperature or at approximately thirty-two degrees Celsius for approximately one to fourteen days prior to any molding application. The batch may then be further processed by cutting the sheet molding compound sheet 177 to an appropriate ply or laminate size, removing the first and second carrier film layers 102, 112, molding the remaining material to an appropriate shape in a heated matched metal or composite die, and curing it under heat and pressure to make a finished composite part (not shown). Preferably, the curing step is done at approximately 5–10 MPa (750–1500 psi) at about 140–163 degrees Celsius for about one-half to three minutes. Of course, one of skill in the art would recognize that the curing conditions for the composite part may vary greatly depending upon such factors as part size and part geometry.
As is further shown in
A layer of chopped glass 158 is applied on top of the second paste layer 163, or alternatively a mat or veil could be applied at this stage. As shown in
Accordingly, as shown in
The composite parts formed according to the present invention form the sheets 177 display superior surface characteristics as compared with traditionally formed sheet molding compound composite parts. This is attributed to the barrier layer formed by the first paste layer, and the barrier layer is supported by the veil as noted above. Because the sheet flows during compression molding, the veil of the present invention must elongate to accommodate the flow of the paste without tearing, as described in further detail herein. Accordingly, a preferred veil includes long fibers and/or irregularly shaped fibers and/or randomly orientated continuous fibers or filaments. Long fibers are preferably over 50 mm long, and more preferably over 100 mm long, but preferably less than 1000 mm, and more preferably between 100 mm and 300 mm, but in some applications the long fibers may be longer than 1000 mm, and may include lengths of continuous fibers.
The mat may be formed using a wet or dry process, and may be needled or unneedled, depending on the mat weight and mechanical properties desired. Needling has been found to improve the stretching capabilities of the veil in a process according to the present invention. Irregularly shaped fibers provide loft and softness of the fibers 108. In a preferred embodiment the veil fibers (whether irregularly shaped or otherwise) comprise fine filamentized fibers versus coarse bundles of fibers, wherein the fibers 108 flow on top of and with the sheet molding paste from the paste layers 104, 110 under pressure. The fibers may comprise glass fibers, organic fibers, carbon fibers, natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or any combination thereof. A preferred dry process to manufacture the veil includes utilizing a known dry mat process using continuous filaments, but further includes needling operation to break the fibers into lengths of long fibers about 100–200 mm long, and which adds a vertical dimension to the fibers to improve properties of the veil.
The veil 106 can be made in various mat sheet weights that will permit it to be used in various applications where either heavier or lighter mat weight is required for surface enhancement. The use of the veil 106 having the irregularly shaped fibers 108 allows for the use of a binder fiber at a low LOI to form the veil 106, which contributes to ease of flow in press molding. As appreciated by one skilled in the art, LOI is the loss on ignition, or also referred as solid content, and is determined by a bum test. The percentage weight lost on ignition gives a crude measure of the organic content of the sample. Preferably the binder is present in an amount of between four and twenty percent. One skilled in the art appreciates that a method to make a composite sheet according to the present invention could utilize either the first carrier film or the second carrier film, or both, to carry the barrier layer of paste, then a veil is applied above the paste layer as described above. A preferred veil has adequate tensile strength in both the machine direction and transverse direction to improve processing during the process to make the sheet, especially as the veil passes under the doctor box 156 as shown in
While the above example indicates only one ply of sheet molding compound sheet 100, it is understood that more than one ply is typically used to form a composite part. The number of plies of the sheet molding compound sheet 100 used to form the composite part varies as a function of the thickness of the composite part desired, but typically ranges from two to four plies. As is known to one skilled in the art and therefore not described in great detail herein, plies are positioned in a mold within a compression molding machine. The mold is then closed upon the plies, and due to the pressure, the plies elongate in length and width as the paste flows within the mold to cover the surface of the mold and fill the tool cavity. A veil according to the present invention elongates in both length and width without tearing as the paste flows, so as to cover the surface of the mold adjacent a resin-rich layer at the surface of the part formed within the mold. Preferably, the veil has an elongation between about 5 and 50 percent in both directions. More preferably, the veil is capable of at least five percent (5%) elongation in each direction (length and width), and more preferably at least 10% elongation in both directions, and more preferably at least 30% elongation in at least one direction, and more preferably at least 30% elongation in both directions, or 40% elongation in at least one direction and at least five percent, and preferably more, in the second direction. In molded parts having deeper draws, the veil preferably has at least 20 to 30 percent elongation in the direction of flow. The veil may be specified according to the amount of flow and/or draw required to make the part, and the required elongation required in a particular direction may be specified accordingly. Even more preferably, the veil has a wet elongation of up to 100% or more in each direction due to the solubility of the binder and movement of the filaments as described above.
In a preferred embodiment, a top ply of the sheet molding compound sheet 100 and one or more sheets of sheet molding compound made according to the prior art are placed in the mold. After proper molding and curing, this forms a composite part having a Class A surface side on a visible side of the composite part and a non-Class A surface that is usually found on the non-visible side. If both the top and bottom surface of the composite part formed need Class A surfaces, then a top ply and bottom ply of the sheet molding compound sheet 100 may be used, with one or more sheets of sheet molding compound made according to the prior art contained within these sheets 100 (some of which may include a paste that is not considered to be a Class A paste). In the case of use of the composite sheet 100 of
In addition, many modifications that can be made to specific components of the sheet molding compound sheet 100 are specifically contemplated. For example, the resin composition of the paste layer 104 of the top ply of the sheet 100 may be altered to utilize other resins, including modified epoxies, vinylesters, acrylics, or urethane-modified polyester resins, that have better impact/toughness properties. Alternatively, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,443 to Woodson et al., which is herein incorporated by reference, the top ply of the composite sheet 100 may be altered by using a dicyclopentadiene resin (DCPD) using ring opening metathesis polymerization ("ROMP") and a ruthenium, osmium or iron-based catalyst. To reduce composite part density, a portion of the filler may be replaced with a special clay or treated filler that improves wetting, while at the same time increasing the viscosity of the paste prior to application. This provides sufficient viscosity so the compound carries the reinforcement as it flows within the tool, thereby maintaining substantially consistent glass loading across the molded part. By reducing the amount of filler necessary to achieve the viscosity, the volume fraction of the resin within the compound may be increased. This increase in volume fraction of a constituent with a lower specific gravity may result in a part with lower weight. However, additional reinforcement material may be needed to control the coefficient of linear thermal expansion ("CLTE") and stiffness of the composite part as the volume fraction of the filler is decreased.
Also, milled fibers, carbon/graphite fiber strands, carbon/graphite powder, carbon/graphite flakes, or short fiber strands (8 mm or less) may be mixed into the paste 104, 110 to help modulus or CLTE. Two preferred grades of graphite available from Superior Graphite Company include Grade 2139 natural flakes and Grade 5039 synthetic flakes. In the case of graphite powder or flakes, the powder or flakes comprise at least 5 weight percent, and preferably between approximately 20 and 35 weight percent, of the paste 104, 110 formulation in order to achieve sufficient conductivity to be electrostatically painted. The addition of graphite powder or flakes in place of or in addition to carbon or glass fiber lowers the specific gravity of the resin paste 104, 110, which thus results in lighter weight molded compounds. As such, fillers such as calcium carbonate are typically added in addition to the graphite flakes or powders to maintain the specific gravity in a preferred range and additionally to lower cost. Further, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5.965,470 to Bening, which is herein incorporated by reference, carbon microfibers, or fibrils, may be added to the paste layers 104, 110 to improve CLTE, conductivity, paintability and surface quality.
Also, a portion of the irregularly shaped fibers 108 may be replaced with a conductive material or combination of conductive materials such as carbon fibers, flakes, fibrils or powders as described above within the veil 106. When compression molded, the irregularly shaped fibers 108 straighten as described above during flow. The conductive materials, meanwhile, are maintained in a substantially continuous network, thereby maintaining the conductivity within the composite material. This produces an electrostatically sprayable composite part made of sheet molding compound sheet 100 that has improved surface characteristics as described above. Alternatively, an aluminum or other conductive metallic substance may be used in place of conductive materials listed above to increase electrical or thermal conductivity. In a further alternative embodiment, the barrier layer comprises a paste having conductive filler materials, such as a graphite material to provide surface conductivity in finished composite parts (as described in further detail below).
In a further embodiment, a composite sheet is made according to the present invention with a veil on the top side as described above, and a second veil is applied to the backside of the part. The backside then could have Class A characteristics, which is not commonly needed, or the veil will impart improved properties, including a reduction of warpage of the part. One skilled in the art appreciates that a preferred process to make such a sheet, although not illustrated, involves applying a paste layer to each of the carrier sheets, providing a veil on top of each paste layer, and preferably placing an intermediate layer of resin adjacent each veil and a layer of reinforcing material between the intermediate layers of resin. Alternatively, the second veil may comprise the reinforcing material and one layer of paste would be provided between the veils.
Composite parts having at least one layer of sheet molding compound sheet 100 according to the present invention have many advantages over the prior art sheet molding compound layered composite parts. First, the present invention reduces the propensity of the SMC composite part to exhibit paint pops by having a more resin rich paste 104, 110 with a barrier veil 106, to keep glass bundles in the part without breaching the top surface layer. This thereby reduces rework of composite parts, which decreases costs and waste. The composite parts having a top ply of sheet molding compound sheet 100 flow well enough to form a reasonably constant skin. When conductive materials as described above are added, a composite part having good electrostatic sprayability is formed which allows the use of powder coatings or electrostatic sprayers. The composite parts may also have improved thermal conductivity as well, thereby reducing the risk of surface imperfections associated with thermal conductivity such as blistering, warping or pops. Finally, the present invention produces composite parts having a Class A type surface.
Using the current invention, a composite part may be molded using a charge that covers a larger portion of the tool than is commonly used, and create a substantially wave-free surface. For example, a typical charge would cover 40 percent of the tool and during compression, the charge would flow to cover the entire tool. Using the current invention, a tool coverage of 60 percent, 70 percent, 80 percent, and greater have been tested successfully, due to the presence of the veil and barrier layer. Further improvement is achieved with the present invention when the molded charge is made from a single "thick" sheet to form the charge as enabled by this invention. Accordingly, the thickness of the veil that ultimately defines the thickness of the barrier layer must be adjusted to provide a good layer of resin and veil when the composite sheet flows during molding. When selecting the thickness of the veil, one must take into account the veil areal weight, density, fiber diameter and tool coverage, and target results in a thickness of at least about 0.1 mm over the entire molded part. Preferably, with a veil having filaments of 100 mm length, diameter of 15 micrometer, for a tool coverage of 60%, a veil weight of about 120 grams/sq. meter has been found to be satisfactory. Applicants have found that a veil weight of 40 to 120 gr/m2 may be used in most applications, and a weight of between about 20 grams/square meter and about 200 grams/square meter may be useful in some applications.
Referring now to
The composition of the paste containing layer 14 used in
The conductive paste layer 18 is preferably similar in formulation to paste layer 14, but further comprises a graphite material 23 that is used to provide surface conductivity in finished composite parts (shown as 114 in
A preferred composition for the paste layer 14 and the conductive paste layer 18 are shown above in Table 1, and below in Table 3, respectively.
Some other advantages of using graphite material 23 in the conductive paste formulation layer 18 are the result of the ability of the graphite material 23 to serve as an inorganic additive or filler. Thus, addition of graphite material 23 often tends to increase the viscosity of the total sheet molding paste system. A useful molding viscosity may be maintained while the total amount of other additives, such as CaCO3, calcium carbonate, may be reduced in the overall conductive paste formulation 18. Often, the graphite material 23 tends to be lighter in weight and exhibit a lower specific gravity when compared with other fillers, so the final weight of the parts 114 molded with the present invention may be lighter than conventional sheet molding composite parts.
Additionally, by substituting other inorganic fillers with a requisite amount of graphite material 23, an improvement in the coefficient of linear thermal expansion and coefficient of thermal expansion has been observed. This improvement may provide a surface layer on the subsequently molded composite part less likely to warp and may therefore exhibit improved surface quality.
Referring now to
Reinforcing fiber 16 in the form of filamentized or unfilamentized fiber is then chopped, using a chopper 60, onto the conductive paste layer 18. A second carrier film layer 12 is unrolled from a roll or reel 62 and a paste layer 14 is deposited onto the second carrier film 12 using another traditional dispensing device 17. The paste layer 14 is deposited as a wet paste 14′ onto the inner side of the second carrier film 12. The thickness of the paste layer 14 is controlled using a doctor blade 66. The second carrier film layer 12 and paste layer 14 is then rolled around a roller 68 and laid on top of the chopped reinforcing fiber 16 such that the paste layer 14 is below the second carrier film layer 12. This forms the conductive SMC sheet 10 shown in
Each batch of compacted conductive SMC compound 77 is then allowed to mature and thicken thereby increasing viscosity at approximately thirty-two degrees Celsius for approximately one to fourteen days prior to any molding application. The batch may then be further processed by cutting the SMC compound 77 to an appropriate ply or laminate size, removing the second and first carrier films 12, 20, molding the remaining material to an appropriate shape in a heated matched metal or composite die, and curing it under heat and pressure to make a finished composite part (such as 114 in
In a preferred embodiment, as shown in
In an alternative embodiment, as shown in
The output of the funnel device 17B is controlled by controlling the viscosity of the paste 18′ through composition and temperature, plus controlling the pressure within the feeding slot 21, which may be accomplished by controlling the height of the paste in the device 17B, and may include an optional pressurization of the device 17B through known mechanical means (not shown). Accordingly, by controlling the pressure, underfeeding and overfeeding of the doctor blade may be avoided, thereby avoiding too thin, or too thick application (or a mess), respectively. Further, one skilled in the art appreciates that more than one funnel may be provided in series, and accordingly more than one type of paste may be deposited onto the sheet; for example, the first funnel may include a non-filamentized paste to provide a resin rich layer on the outside of the part, and a filamentized paste may be deposited by a second funnel adjacent the nonfilamentized paste.
As shown in
Each batch of compacted SMC sheet 77 is then allowed to mature and thicken thereby increasing viscosity at approximately thirty-two degrees Celsius for approximately one to fourteen days prior to any molding application. The batch may then be further processed by cutting the SMC sheet 10 to an appropriate ply or laminate size, removing the upper and lower carrier films 12, 20, molding the remaining material to an appropriate shape in a heated matched metal or composite die, and curing it under heat and pressure to make a finished composite part (not shown). Preferably, the curing step is done at approximately 5–10 MPa (750–1500 psi) at about 140–163 degrees Celsius (280–325 Degrees F.) for about one-half to three minutes.
During the compaction step described above, excess resin from the paste layer 14 and paste layer 18 penetrates within and through the fiber layer 58 to wet it out. The compacted SMC sheet 77, when cured, forms a composite part in which visible surface layer forms a resin rich and nearly porous free layer that has improved surface characteristics with less surface pores as compared with traditional sheet molding compound composites.
In addition, if conductive materials such as carbon or nickel coated carbon or glass fibers are used in the fiber layer 18, a cured composite part having improved electrostatic sprayability characteristics may be realized. Such conductive fibers may be used in addition to, or instead of, glass fibers. Similarly conductive flakes, fibrils, powders, or carbon or nickel coated carbon or glass fibers or conductive particles may be used in the resin impregnated filamentized fiber layer, each of which is to be considered as conductive fibers for the purposes of this disclosure. Further, by concentrating the conductive materials within the fiber layer 18 at a location which is very close to the surface of the composite part, less conductive material is needed within the composite part as compared with traditional sheet molding compound composite parts having conductive material, which reduces raw material costs.
Referring now to
One preferred composition for sheet molding paste layer 206 is disclosed below in Table 1. However, other additives could be added to the composition, including demolding agents, low profile additives to reduce fiber prominence, anti-static additives, ultraviolet ("UV") light stabilizer additives, and other additives contemplated in the art to give desired surface characteristics for the composite part formed from the sheet molding compound 271.
Further, conductive materials could be added to sheet molding paste layer 206 to improve electrostatic sprayability. These include milled fibers, carbon/graphite fiber strands, graphite powder, graphite flakes, or short fiber strands (8 mm or less) to help modulus or CLTE.
Next, a layer of thin non-woven fabric, or veil 210, similar to that described above, is unrolled from a creel 212 or similar device and placed on top of the sheet molding paste layer 206. This veil 210 preferably is the kinked fiber veil as described in Provisional Application 60/328,620, filed Oct. 12, 2001, from which this application claims priority and which is herein incorporated by reference, or may include a veil having the characteristics described above.
Next, another layer 214 of resin paste is applied preferably using a second volumetric paste extrusion device 216. This layer 214 of resin paste is formulated to give excellent mechanical performance and proper shrink control. Because this is an internal resin layer, surface characteristic additives are not necessary in the composition of the resin paste layer 214 such as those shown in Table 1 above. Thus, antistatic additives, ultraviolet ("UV") light stabilizer additives and other additives contemplated in the art to give desired surface characteristics for the composite part are not needed. Thus, a preferred resin composition would be similar to that depicted in Table 1 without these additives.
Next, a layer of chopped glass fiber reinforcement 218 is added over the resin paste layer 214. This layer of chopped glass fiber reinforcement 218 is typical as to what is found in the prior art. A multi-end glass fiber roving 220 is fed into a chopper 222 to form the chopped glass fiber reinforcement 218. A third paste layer 224 is then added preferably using a third volumetric paste extrusion device 226. A second layer of chopped glass reinforcement 228 may then be added over the third paste layer 224.
The process for forming the rest of the sheet molding compound 250 is done by adding the components in reverse order of what has been done in the above paragraphs without the outer paste layer 206 and veil 210. Thus, another paste layer 214, and an outer carrier layer 202 are laid on top of the chopped glass reinforcement layer 228. Of course, if a class A surface is desired on both sides of the sheet molding compound 250, the extra layer of veil 210 and outer paste layer 206 may be incorporated between the resin paste layer 214 and outer carrier layer 202.
Finally, the sheet molding composite sheet 271 is formed by rolling or passing the sheet molding compound 250 through a compaction device 240 and packaged by winding around a mandrel 242 or other packaging device known in the art for later processing. Alternatively, the sheet molding composite sheet 271 could be festooned in a box. In addition, the sheet molding composite sheet 271 may be cut on the compounding line at regular intervals and the cut sheets placed flat in a storage container for later processing. The advantage in this process is that the sheet molding composite sheet 271 is not damaged due to bending, which can result in improved surface characteristics.
The sheet molding composite sheet 271 is then matured for 1 to 14 days, typically at approximately 29–46 degrees Celsius (85–115 degrees Fahrenheit) This allows the viscosity of the sheet 271 to increase enough so that the sheet molding paste and reinforcement material flow homogeneously together instead of separating in the subsequent molding process that form a composite part.
Alternatively, as depicted in
The bulk molding compound layer 230 is a specially formulated paste that is effective in incorporating with proper impregnation various kinds of fillers that can be sequentially incorporated into the paste. These fillers are added to the paste for a variety of reasons, including waste and weight reduction, and are not typically added to sheet molding compounds because they can create surface imperfections. Because these fillers are contained in a middle layer, they have little or no effect on surface characteristics. These fillers include low-density fillers and recycled materials of various granulometry and morphology.
Referring now to
The Archimedes screw device 264 has many functions. First, it allows for compensation in pressure drop along the die 262 in the throughput of paste 206 across the width W of the line 278. It also brings flexibility allowing the control of the left-right balance of paste 206 distribution along the entire width of the slit 284. This allows continuous cleaning of the slit 284 by moving clumps towards the filter 270. Particles that pass through the slit 284 will discharge on the line 278 given the tapered geometry of the slit 284.
Referring now to
Of course, while the preferred embodiment of the present invention discloses volumetric paste extrusion device 208, 216, 226, and 244 to distribute the respective sheet molding pastes, other alternative extruder means may be used in conjunction with or replacing the above dies. Two more preferred examples are shown below in
Referring now to
Referring now to
Further, other embodiments of extruders and or replacing the volumetric paste extrusion devices of
Further, a variety of additional controls may be added to the volumetric paste extrusion devices depicted in
The present invention offers important advantages over presently available sheet molding compound based composite materials. First, the use of volumetric dosing techniques allows multiple layers of sheet molding paste and reinforcement to be added along one compounding line, thereby allowing the production of thicker composite sheets 271 in one compounding process. This reduces the number of composite sheets 271 that are required to be loaded into a mold to form a composite part. This increases manufacturing efficiency by reducing the amount of carrier film sheets that must be removed prior to molding. Additionally, this increases the productivity of the sheet molding compound line as the line speed remains essentially unchanged with respect to prior art.
Second, the use of volumetric dosing techniques to apply sheet molding paste allows for higher consistency in composite sheet 271 weight as compared with composite sheets made using a traditional doctor box type application system. The need to control the weight of the composite sheet 271 charge as in the prior art is overcome, thereby improving consistency in molding from part to part that may result in composite parts having improved mechanical and aesthetic characteristics.
Third, the top layer of sheet molding paste 206 is specifically constituted to be void free and to follow the "plug flow" of the unique underlying charge so to cover up the whole of the visible Class A surface of the, composite part. With such a "pore free" layer, the need for long flow of the sheet 271 to expel air is suppressed. "Plug flow" is a rheological term to describe flow type where the material essentially behaves as a "deformable body" that keeps much integrity and thus progresses with little shear deformation. This type of flow is opposite of what is found in the injection of thermoplastics, where the material in the center of the cavity gap flows faster than the material along the surface. This type of flow is known as "fountain flow".
Fourth, the present invention result is a sheet molding composite sheet 271 that may have one or more specialized attributes within its layers, including for example a top layer with no entrapped air, a conductive top layer, a colored or light stabilized top layer, a conductive EMI shielded top layer, and a low density or low cost reinforced middle region. This allows for sheet molding composite parts having improved surface finishes, lower weight, and that offer recycling solutions.
Fifth, the combination of a void free top layer and thick charge capabilities with this new technology allows for usage of a charge that is made of one top sheet molding composite sheet 271 to form a molded composite part having a class A visible surface. Depending upon the desired thickness of the composite part to be formed, one or more charges of traditional sheet molding composite sheets or additional charges of the composite sheet 271 of the present invention may be added beneath the top layer of the composite sheet 271.
While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings.
1. A sheet molding composite sheet for use in structural reinforced compression molded composite parts, the sheet comprising in an uncompacted form between a pair of outer film layers:
- a first layer of resin paste applied to one of the pair of outer film layers;
- a second layer of resin paste applied to the other of the pair of outer film layers;
- n layers of nonwoven discrete filaments or reinforcement fibers, wherein the filaments or fibers do not melt when exposed to a temperature of 200 degrees C. for twenty seconds; and
- (n−1) layers of resin paste volumetrically applied to between each of said n layers of reinforcement fibers using a volumetric paste extrusion device so as to provide alternating layers of nonwoven discrete filaments or reinforcement fibers and resin paste, wherein n is at least 2.
2. The sheet molding composite sheet of claim 1, wherein at least one of said (n−1) layers of resin paste is a bulk molding compound layer.
3. The sheet molding composite sheet of claim 2, wherein said bulk molding compound layer is volumetrically applied using a volumetric paste extrusion device having a bulk molding volumetric slit extrusion die.
4. The sheet molding composite sheet of claim 2, wherein said bulk molding compound layer contains low-density fillers.
5. The sheet molding composite sheet of claim 2, wherein said bulk molding compound layer contains recycled materials of various granulometry and morphology.
6. The sheet molding composite sheet of claim 1, wherein said first layer of resin paste is volumetrically applied using a volumetric paste extrusion device.
7. The sheet molding composite sheet of claim 1 wherein said first layer and said second layer are volumetrically applied using a volumetric paste extrusion device.
8. The sheet molding composite sheet of claim 1, further comprising introducing at least one layer of a preformed veil in place of a respective one of said layers of reinforcement fibers.
9. The sheet molding composite sheet of claim 1, wherein said veil comprises a binder substantially soluble in said paste.
10. A sheet molding composite sheet for use in structural reinforced compression molded composite parts, the sheet comprising in an uncompacted form between a pair of outer film layers:
- a first layer of resin paste applied to one of the pair of outer film layers;
- a second layer of resin paste applied to the other of the pair of outer film layers;
- n layers of irregularly shaped reinforcement filaments or fibers; and
- (n−1) layers of resin paste volumetrically applied to between each of said n layers of reinforcement fibers using a volumetric paste extrusion device so as to privede alternating layer of nonwoven discrete filaments or reinforcement fibers and resin paste, wherein n is at least 2.
11. The sheet of claim 1 wherein said fibers or filaments comprise glass fibers or filaments.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Oct 11, 2002
Date of Patent: Sep 11, 2007
Patent Publication Number: 20030165670
Assignees: Owens-Corning Fiberglas Technology Inc. (Summit, IL), Owens Corning Composites SPRL (Brussels)
Inventors: Jacques H. Gerard (Olne), David E. Adam, deceased (Pataskala, OH), Frank R. Cichocki (Reynoldsburg, OH), Michael H. Jander (Eupen), Paul R. Krumlauf (Thornville, OH), Giovanni Montagna (Battice), Donald B. Sage (Amarillo, TX)
Primary Examiner: Lynda Salvatore
Attorney: Inger H. Eckert
Application Number: 10/269,167
International Classification: B32B 27/12 (20060101); B32B 5/26 (20060101); B32B 9/04 (20060101); D04H 1/00 (20060101);


text:
Continuing with the yoga theme we are onto camping today! I love the thought of camping. Being outdoors, sitting around a fire, and chatting with friends and family. In reality, I love the thought, but when it comes down to it…I don't camp. I prefer hot showers and my nice comfortable bed. When I was younger, it was a much different story. I wanted to camp all the time. Usually, the extent of my camping was in my back yard, but man was it fun. So what could be better than a little camping yoga to share with you today!
Camping Poses
Canoe Boat Pose. Can be done in partners or as an individual.
Tent Reverse Warrior
Fire Fire breathing. Sit criss-cross on the floor with your hands in front of you and breathe in. When you breathe out lift your hands above your head and clap. Repeat fast and slow like flames of a fire!
Star Star Pose. Open and close hands to twinkle!
Rock Childs Pose
Bear Downward Dog or walk on your hands and feet like a bear.
Tree Tree Pose. Can be done in partners or as one.
Moon Moon Pose
Insect Insect Pose
Fish Fish Pose. Make fish faces in this pose!
Compass Sit on the floor with your legs spread apart. Reach forward in all directions and talk about different directions.
Bird Airplane Pose. Flap your arms like a bird!
Camping Yoga
If you want to start camping yoga at your home, classroom or therapy you can easily get your own set of cards. I have two different options available to you! The second set includes everyday objects in the pictures (tents, moon etc.) while the option for the first set is actual real kids in the poses. The poses are the same, the presentation is different. This way you can choose which set would be best for you!
The cards give you easy access to camping yoga anytime of the day. They are perfect to carry with you if you travel, to have as a free play option, or for brain breaks. They are an excellent resource for therapists and special education teachers as well.
Get All Things Camping
Get both sets of Camping Yoga along with Forest Themed Movement Cards in the Camping Theme Movement Pack and save money!
Let's connect! Pink Oatmeal is on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram!
My store at Pink Oatmeal has ideas to get the kids moving at home, in the classroom, and in therapy! If you prefer Teachers Pay Teachers you can find me there too with even more ideas to get the kids moving!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Learn How to Buy and Sell Gold & Silver
Gold Academy Class Schedule & Information
Classes begin promptly at 9:00 am and go until 5:00 pm.
Classes are available by appointment only.
Email Bob HERE to get your class scheduled or call 770.335.5996
The Gold Academy
At The Gold Academy, we will give you all the knowledge and hands-on experience you need to start your own Gold Buying Business, so you can buy and sell gold and be profitable. In class you will be taught testing skills and learn how to assess the value of gold and other precious metals.
Our classes are taught by experts with more than forty years in the retail, consulting, training and precious metals business. We will give you the confidence and knowledge you need to succeed.
$1000.00 Tuition includes Live Class, Printed Manual & Ongoing Support


text:
Your music — on all the most popular download and streaming sites worldwide. With 150+ digital distribution partners (and more being added all the time) we'll get your music for sale in more places than any other music distributor. See our complete partner list.
While many music distributors will charge per-retailer fees, yearly fees, and cancellation fees, we offer all our distribution services for only $29 per album and $9.95 per single. And whenever we add a new retail partner, your music will be delivered free of charge.
Being one of the oldest and most trusted independent distributors means we can get your music selling online faster than anyone else. We are a preferred Apple content provider and can get your music on iTunes and Apple Music in just a few short days after you give your final approval for distribution.
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*For download sales on store.cdbaby.com, Standard and Pro artists earn 91%.
Take your music to the next level
Get the guide


text:
Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature Wild Writing Competition
14 December 2018 - 14 February 2019
Dunedin Public Libraries, Wild Dunedin Festival of Nature, and Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature invite you to be inspired by the wildness of nature.
Write a single great sentence that observes or describes something in nature that has moved you to put pen to paper. Your sentence should be no longer than 250 words, and entries are welcome from writers all over the world aged 18+ with an interest in wildlife.
The best sentence will be turned into a beautifully-designed postcard for our Wild Cards series, and the writer will win a cash prize of NZ$1,000 sponsored by the Wild Dunedin New Zealand Festival of Nature.
ENTER ONLINE: www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz/whats-on/competitions
CLOSING DATE: 14th February 2019


text:
Recently, Logitech introduced its new Pure-Fi Anywhere speaker system. Designed to let the users enjoy clear sound and maximum bass with iPod speakers, Pure-If Anywhere speaker system is equipped with a unique combination of speaker drivers.
The new Pure-If Anywhere 2 Speaker system features advanced acoustics to enable you to experience clear sound. It also incorporates a set of 2-inch Max-X active, high-excursion drivers for delivering full and balanced audio effects. Apart from its compact size, the battery life of these speakers makes it worth buying for your iPod.
Featuring the StereoXL technology, this new speaker system comes with a wireless remote control and one-touch controls. Pure-If Anywhere 2 Speaker System comes fitted with a 10-hour rechargeable battery and a travel case that protects and stores speakers. This new speaker system is available at a price of $ 129.00.
Via: Logitech


text:
Stairway to Heaven
I don't have any stairs to call my own. I have 4 flights of them that belong to my landlord and which I have to climb like a Tibetan sherpa at the end of every long work day…but no stairs to call my own. Given my poor sense of balance, though, it's probably all for the best. Having an interior staircase would probably drastically reduce my life expectancy. Stairs, you are my kryptonite.
But that won't stop me from fantasizing about this week's eye candy – statement staircases – for those of us who have so much to say that we need our steps to say it, too. Check out these really fun DIY staircases from Scraphacker and some of my own favorites from pinterest below!


text:
What's a girl to do when it's Friday night and you've got happy hour plans, but you still want a good sweat sesh? Head to the gym (or your living room, if you have some dumbbells at home) and crank out this sexy arms, abs, and legs workout from The Hollywood Trainer Jeanette Jenkins. It'll kick-start a burn in all the right places, so you've feel svelte, sexy, and fit AF all night long. (Or try Jeanette's at-home cardio kickboxing workout if you're feeling feisty.)
How it works: Grab a set of medium-weight dumbbells and a mat (if the floor is hard) and get to work. Do each move for the number of reps indicated, and repeat the circuit two to three times.
Plié Squat with Row and Lift
A. Stand with feet wider than shoulder-width apart, toes pointing out at 45-degree angles, and holding dumbbells in front of hips.
B. Lower into a plié squat, drawing elbows up and out to the sides to row dumbbells up in front of shoulders.
C. Straighten legs and lower dumbbells in front of hips.
D. Then lower down into another plié squat, lifting straight arms forward and up to shoulder height. Return to starting position.
Do 20 reps.
Roundhouse Kick
A. Stand with feet together and hands guarding face.
B. Shift weight into right leg, lean to the right, and kick out to the side with the left leg as if making contact with shin on a heavy bag.
C. Draw left leg back in and tap the floor before beginning the next rep.
Do 20 to 25 reps per side.
Lunge with Shoulder Press
A. Stand at the top of a lunge with left foot one step forward and right foot one step back. Hold dumbbells in racked position at shoulders.
B. Lower into a lunge until left knee forms a 90-degree angle, keeping weight centered between feet. At the same time, press dumbbells straight overhead, so they're directly above shoulders and arms aren't locked out.
C. Straighten legs and lower dumbbells to return to starting position.
Do 20 to 25 reps on each side.
Squat Jumps
A. Stand with feet slightly wider than hip-width apart.
B. Hinge at the hips to sink back into a squat, tapping the ground with hands in between feet.
C. Straighten legs to stand and jump, reaching arms overhead. Land softly and lower directly into the next squat.
Do 15 to 25 reps.
Back Row with Back Toe Tap
A. Start with feet together and knees bent, hinged slightly forward at the hips, and dumbbells in hands extended straight over thighs.
B. Row the dumbbells up to shoulder height, opening elbows wide. At the same time, shift weight into right leg to tap the left leg backward.
C. Return to start, then repeat the row with a toe tap on the other side. Continue alternating.
Do 16 to 20 reps.
Triceps Kickback with Leg Lift
A. Stand with weight shifted into right leg, left leg stepped slightly back and balancing on toe. Hold dumbbells curled up toward shoulders with elbows at a 90-degree angle and wrists facing in.
B. Squeeze triceps to straighten arms, drawing dumbbells backward, while squeezing glutes to lift the straight left leg up and back.
C. Bring dumbbells back up to shoulders and tap left leg to ground to return to starting position.
Do 16 reps, then hold the extended position and pulse 16 times. Repeat on the other side.
Reverse Pike-Up
A. Lie faceup, arms and legs extended and hovering off the ground.
B. Lift straight arms and legs toward center to touch hands to feet or shins.
C. Lower down, trying to keep shoulder blades lifted off the ground.
Do 20 reps.
Repeat the circuit 2 to 3 times.


text:
Dentistry & Orthodontics
Most dentists can take care of the basics such as tooth cleaning and cavity filling, and we offer those services in a fun, safe environment too. But when it comes to more complex issues, you need the kind of expertise you probably won't find in your neighborhood dentist's office. You will find it here.
Our dentists and orthodontists are highly skilled. They have to be – when they aren't taking care of children, they're teaching the next generation of dentists. That means they have extensive experience in treating challenging oral health issues including early childhood caries, cleft palate, pediatric gum disease, improper bite, malocclusion, and oral soft tissue and hard tissue anomalies.
Services We Offer
- Preventive care
- Infant oral exams
- Restorative and surgical care
- Habit counseling (e.g., pacifier use)
- Fillings
- Sealants
- Management of gum disease
- Orthodontics


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29 May 2012
When Bees Swarm, It's Good To Be There
27 May 2012
We have a cow at Misty Meadows!
Her name is Stella. She is not our cow. She may or may not be pregnant. She got out only once (actually, right where she is pictured) and was only captured when lured with collards. She is mowing our fields and perimeter like a true champion. Sometimes she looks angry, sometimes pleased. Hard to tell really. If you'd like to meet her, come out to buy some plant starts (hint, hint).
12 May 2012


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Tuesday, July 19, 2011
"In every job I've ever worked at, it's been understaffed. It's stressful going to work every day knowing there's an infinite to-do list. But I'm considered one of the lucky ones," said Mike Heller. "Of my friends, only half of us are fortunate to have jobs. The other half are unemployed."
Of the 600 who packed the Kinglsey Center auditorium in East Liberty for the congressional listening tour sponsored by sponsored by ProgressiveCongress.org, many were less fortunate. And they let those who had come to listen -- Jackie Erickson, repping Sen. Bob Casey, and Corey O'Connor, representing Mike Doyle -- know it.
The discussion in Washington, O'Connor said, "shouldn't be on debt limits. It should be on getting good, quality jobs back to Western Pennsylvania."
Among those who spoke:
More than 30 organizations and citizen groups were present, including the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network, One Pittsburgh and Action United.
"We should not be here begging for health care, begging for jobs," said the Rev. Richard Freeman, president of PIIN. "We own this country!"
Pittsburgh was the listening tour's 14th stop, and it continues across the country. Visit here to share your story with the tour.
Tags: Slag Heap


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My apologies for not getting around to posting yesterday – it has been a long couple of days but now I'm happily ensconced in Glasgow amid the Glasgow 'red stones' at the Hilton Glasgow Grosvenor Hotel. Pics tomorrow, I promise.
I also haven't got around to commentating on Tuesday's activities, but the pics are there if you want to see what I got up to. Right now I just need to rest so will post longer tomorrow!
Nite all!


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For immediate release
Lory Sutton • Marketing and Communications • 651-259-3140 • firstname.lastname@example.com
Icons of Minnesota' On View in Gale Family Library at Minnesota History Center, Display to Feature Historical Objects that Define Minnesota
(June 12, 2014) What do the Vikings, The Great Gatsby, blueberry muffin mix, a walleye and the Pillsbury Doughboy all have in common? They are all Minnesota icons!
Thirty Minnesota artifacts will be on display in "Icons of Minnesota" in the Gale Family Library at the Minnesota History Center from July 1 through Aug. 30. Included are iconic artifacts from government, popular culture, sports, industry, literature and folklore.
"Minnesotans take their icons seriously," said Lori Williamson, acquisitions and outreach coordinator. "This small display shows some of the serious, fun and popular symbols that Minnesota has used to define itself through the years."
Featured artifacts include:
- Two artifacts honoring Metrodome baseball: Kirby Puckett's 1984 rookie season baseball card, which will be on display for the first time and the Metrodome's home plate.
- A linen duster worn by a member of the James-Younger gang when they robbed the First National Bank of Northfield on September 7, 1876. The gang members wore dusters on their way into the bank in order to conceal their guns, but once inside the bank, dropped the dusters and demanded money from the vault. The duster was donated to MNHS in 1890 by George Baxter who prosecuted the Youngers for the robbery and murders. The duster served as evidence in the trial.
- The Vikings "Farewell to the Met" pennant commemorating 150 football games played at Metropolitan Stadium, highlighting the first game versus the Chicago Bears in 1961 and the last game versus the Kansas City Chiefs in 1981. The Vikings beat the Bears, 37-13, but lost to the Chiefs, 10-6. Fans swarmed the field after the final game to grab a part of Met nostalgia. They pulled down goalposts, bleachers, loudspeakers in the end zone and pieces of the scoreboard. Nine people were arrested.
- Official state icons, including the state's territorial seal, created in 1849; the original Seth Eastman watercolor used to create the seal's design; a re-cast die of the first state seal created in 1858; and a photograph of the 1858 seal which was lost in a fire at the Minnesota State Capitol in 1881, found by a passerby who took it with him to England, returned to Minnesota in 1901, and went missing again following an exhibition of state icons at the Capitol in 1984.
- A set of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox salt and pepper shakers from the 1970s that were commonly found in tourist gift shops and kitchens throughout the state.
- A rare copy of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1934 first edition of "The Great Gatsby." Stamped on its cover with the statement "Discontinued Title," this edition is the first and the only time book has been out of print since it was published in 1925. In the preface, Fitzgerald defends his book and dismisses its critics.
- A plaster cast replica of the Kensington Runestone on view at the Runestone Museum in Alexandria. It is perhaps the most highly-debated icon in Minnesota history. Many authorities who have examined the stone have claimed it a forgery, but others are equally certain of its authenticity. Runic inscriptions are incised on the front and one side of the stone. Carved on the underside of the base is "FJK / FM / 38". These may be the initials of the makers of the casting and the date. The appearance of the stone is very similar to the original, which was discovered in 1898 by Swedish American farmer Olof Ohman, near Kensington, Minnesota. Scholars' translation of the inscription is as follows: "Eight Swedes and twenty-two Norwegians on an exploration journey from Vinland westward. We had our camp by two rocky islets one day's journey north of this stone. We were out fishing one day. When we came home we found ten men red with blood and dead. AVM save us from evil. We have ten men by the sea to look after our ships, fourteen days' journey from this island. Year 1362."
- A 1991 Timberwolves megaphone which was purchased at Woolworth's for $4.99. The promotional candy container was designed to hold miniature Nestle′ Crunch candy bars.
The artifacts were chosen from the vast collections of the Minnesota Historical Society which includes about 250,000 objects, 6,000 works of art, 300,000 photographs, 50,000 cubic feet of manuscripts, 50,000 cubic feet of state archives, 500,000 printed works, 1,245 cataloged moving images, 3 million feet of news film from KSTP-TV, and an oral history collection with 500 interview projects, 40 video projects and more than 2,000 hours of cataloged interviews.
The Gale Family Library and the "Icons of Minnesota" display are free to the public. The library is the premier place for research about Minnesota's people, places, history and culture, and is home to the state archives, MNHS collections and family history resources. It is open Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Wednesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is located on the second floor of the Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul.
Admission to the History Center's museum is $11 for adults, $9 for seniors and students with ID, $6 for children ages 6-17, and free to MNHS members and children ages 5 and under. The museum is free on Tuesday evening, 5 to 8 p.m. Museum hours are Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. The Society collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota's past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs and book publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, the Society preserves our past, shares our state's stories and connects people with history.
The Minnesota Historical Society is supported by our Premier Sponsors, Xcel Energy and Explore Minnesota Tourism.


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For various reasons, including access to birth control, more career and educational opportunities, and economic concerns, more women in the United States are delaying childbearing.
Many women who try to have a baby in their mid- and late thirties or sometimes even early forties have no problem getting pregnant. Yet fertility does decline as we age, and many other women struggle to get pregnant or are unable to get pregnant or carry a pregnancy to term.
This reality can put us in a bind: We may feel unready to have a baby now while also concerned about not being able to become pregnant later. For these reasons, it's important to understand the effect aging has on chances of conceiving and carrying a pregnancy to term.
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, during any given menstrual cycle, a 25-year-old woman has about a 25 percent chance of becoming pregnant. This percentage begins to drop in the late twenties and decreases more significantly in the mid- and late thirties, until by age 40 a woman has about a five percent chance of conceiving per cycle.
These statistics sound more alarming than they are, though. A younger woman is not five times more likely to conceive than a woman of 40; she is simply more likely to get pregnant in fewer cycles. Over the course of a year, a woman who is between the age of thirty-five and thirty-nine has approximately a 60 percent chance of spontaneously conceiving (with no fertility interventions). The rate jumps to 85 percent after two years.
Age affects our ability not only to conceive but also to carry a pregnancy to term. Chromosomal abnormalities, the cause of more than half of all miscarriages, are more likely as we age. A woman in her twenties has a 12 to 15 percent chance of having a miscarriage each time she becomes pregnant, while a woman in her forties has close to a 50 percent risk of miscarriage.
Statistics provide valuable information on the likelihood of conceiving and/ or carrying a pregnancy to term. They cannot, however, predict what will happen for any individual woman. In addition, decisions about when to try to become pregnant, especially as we get older, are often complicated by factors that have little to do with age.
Many of us put off having children because we don't feel emotionally or financially ready or because we don't have a partner and don't want to be a single parent. Yet waiting means that we may be unable to get pregnant when we are ready. Recognizing this reality in no way diminishes the importance or value of education, career, or other life choices that lead us to post-pone childbearing, but it places front and center how difficult it can be to make decisions and compromises about when to try to get pregnant.


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Hello! Welcome to my site.
I produce voice work for many formats, from corporate reads for training and marketing purposes, E learning packages and company IVRs to voice over for ads, gaming, and animation. I am an audiobook narrator and I work from my high spec recording studio based in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.
Gaming voice reel


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These cool new Evergreen Tree Candles are intricately shaped and detailed tree-shaped holiday candles that are made from 100% paraffin wax, come in three sizes and can be clustered to form a little decorative evergreen forest. Unfortunately, they're unscented.
Related Offers From Amazon.com
- 100% paraffin wax
- Unscented
- Burn time: short (12 hours), tall (40 hours), tealight (3 hours)


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Legal Advisors:
Information for Radiation Emergencies
- General Comments
- Assessment of State and Local Laws Regarding Management of Persons During Radiation Incident
- Emergency Declaration Authorities Across all States and DC
- HIPAA Issues
General Comments
- Legal issues for medical planning and response to a mass casualty radiation incident will vary with
- Nature, severity, cause, and location of the radiation incident
- Agency through which the responder is operating and its own rules and regulations
- Professional capacity of the responder
- Training and certification of the responder
- Normal scope of practice of the responder
- "Normal" or "altered standard of care" (e.g. Crisis) existing during the response where the responder is working
- Activity performed or not performed
- Medical practice, standards of care, and liability issues are complex and each practitioner should consult with experts in his/her venue and organization to obtain the best and most current advice.
- Inclusion of references on this page does not constitute official US government or HHS endorsement.
- Overview of federal and state laws for all-hazards mass casualty incidents (HHS/CDC)
Assessment of State and Local Laws Regarding Management of Persons During Radiation Incidents
- Public Health Preparedness: Examination of Legal Language Authorizing Responses to Incidents Involving Contamination with Radioactive Material (PDF - 670 KB) (HHS/CDC/RSB and CDC/ATSDR; CDC/Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support; Legal Preparendess Project: collaboration between CDC and NACCHO), May 2014)
- Designed to answer 2 questions: Do states and select jurisdictions...
- "Possess the authority to decontaminate persons contaminated with radioactive material?"
- "Have the authority to restrict the movement of persons contaminated with radioactive material? (e.g. quarantine)?"
- Goals
- "Identify and categorize the current landscape of laws that may be available to decontaminate and restrict personal movement of persons contaminated or potentially contaminated with radioactivity"
- "Foster collaboration among stakeholders to enhance preparedness and response"
- Conducted a legal assessment of all fifty states, New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.
- Text, maps and tables show comparisons among these jurisdictions
- Designed to answer 2 questions: Do states and select jurisdictions...
Emergency Declaration Authorities Across all States and DC
- Links to legal authorizations for each of the 50 states and DC (The Network for Public Health Law)
- Table provides state statutory and regulatory authorities for emergency declarations in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia including
- Emergency declarations, public health emergency declarations, and other types of declarations that may relate to the public's health.
- Table provides state statutory and regulatory authorities for emergency declarations in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia including
HIPAA Issues
- HHS information about HIPAA (HHS)
- Radiological Legal Preparedness: Considerations, Research, and Lessons Learned (Network for Public Health Law: 1.5 hour webinar slides from July 23, 2015)
- Chu VS, Emergency Response: Civil Liability of Volunteer Health Professionals (PDF - 144 KB) (Congressional Research Service, 7-5700, R40176, January 2011)
- New York State Public Health Legal Manual: A Guide for Judges, Attorneys and Public Health Professionals, Editor-in-Chief: Michael Colodner (PDF - 650 KB) (New York State Bar Association in Collaboration with NY State Unified Court System, State of NY Department of Health, NY City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 2011)
- Sherman, SE. Legal Considerations in a Nuclear Detonation. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2011 Mar;5 Suppl 1:S65-72. [PubMed Citation] Full Text (PDF - 87 KB)
- Hodge JG, Courtney B. Assessing the Legal Standard of Care in Public Health Emergencies, JAMA 2010; 303(4):361-362. [PubMed Citation]
- Anderson ED, Hodge JG. Emergency Legal Preparedness Among Select US Local Governments. Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness 2009;3(Suppl 2):S176-S184. [PubMed Citation]
- Hoffman S, Goodman RA, Stier D. Law, Liability, and Public Health Emergencies. Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness 2009;3:1-9. [PubMed Citation]
- Crisis Standards of Care
- Crisis Standards of Care: A Toolkit of Indicators and Triggers (Institute of Medicine, July 31, 2013)
- Crisis Standards of Care (CSC): A Systems Framework for Catastrophic Disaster Response (Institute of Medicine, March 21, 2012)
- Guidance for Establishing Crisis Standards of Care for Use in Disaster Situations, a Letter Report (Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, 2009).
- Allocation of Scarce Resources During Mass Casualty Events (HHS/AHRQ, June 2012) (This report represents follow-up after the 2009 IOM report.)
- Hodge JG, Garcia AM, Anderson E, Kaufman T. Emergency Legal Preparedness for Hospitals and Health Care Personnel. Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness 2009;3(Suppl 1)S37-S44. [PubMed Citation]
- Barnett DJ, Taylor HA, Hodge JG, Links J. Resource Allocation on the Frontlines of Public Health Preparedness and Response: Report of a Summit on Legal and Ethical Issues. Public Health Reports 2009;124:295-124. [PubMed Citation]
- Hodge JG, Anderson ED. Principles and Practice of Legal Triage During Public Health Emergencies. 64 NYU Annual Survey of American Law, 249 (2008-2009).


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By PowerBuy // 20 December 2017 // Related Categories:
Recruiting in the New Year?
Five ways to simplify the hiring process
To have a successful business means recruiting the right people.
Finding, screening, interviewing then selecting the right candidate is a considerable challenge and can consume a huge amount of resources. The good news is there are now more ways to find suitable candidates and here are five for you to explore.
1. Word of mouth
Often the best candidates are closer than you think. Think about people you know. You may have come across them at trade events or conferences. They might work for one of your competitors and their details can easily be found on their current employers' website under the 'about us' tab. Tap into your employees, who through their network of friends and colleagues, may know of someone either directly or indirectly that could fill the position. This is a cost effective and targeted way to find the right candidate.
2. Recruitment websites
This self-service solution allows employers to post job vacancies online. However, in order to avoid wasting time sorting through a mountain of responses from unsuitably qualified candidates, it is very important to clearly define the position description - including the minimu
3. LinkedIn
LinkedIn contains the resumes and job profiles for thousands of members. Employers can broadcast ads to targeted members who possess suitable experience, qualifications and skills required for the vacant position. LinkedIn also allows businesses to set up a company page which can be a great way to communicate what your business does.
4. Your business website
One of the first places candidates look to assess their prospective employers is on company websites. Many websites have a careers section to capture potential candidates. Business websites are a great way of providing an insight to candidates about your business. You can also use the website to feature information about the members of your team and provide any further details about your business.
5. Facebook and Twitter
Over two-thirds of employers today use Facebook to recruit employees. Using functions such as the "Graph Search", a filtering search tool, employers are able to reach out to potential candidates across the globe. Facebook and Twitter pages allow you to post jobs on social feeds and direct users to your business website.
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Do you wish a personalized english wedding ceremony in Germany which you will treasure forever? Are you looking for a wedding speaker, celebrant, or master of ceremony, who conducts english-speaking weddings and marriage ceremonies in Germany/Deutschland?
As professional wedding speaker and celebrant I offer english wedding ceremonies which reflect you, your love, and all the things that you hold most dear in the world. The marriage ceremony can be a religious or non-religious ceremony. Above all, personal, elegant and unique.
Do you or the wedding guests not understand German? Are there different lingual backgrounds? If yes, then, an English marriage ceremony might be a solution.
I am there for you. For wedding ceremonies in Frankfurt am Main, Wiesbaden, Heidelberg, Rheingau, Eltville, Mainz, Rhein-Main-Area, Baden-Baden, Köln/Cologne, München/Munich, Bayern/Bavaria, Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Baden-Württemberg, and many other parts of Germany/Deutschland (more).
In Germany the wedding ceremony does not replace the legal marriage ceremony by law, for which you have to go to the German civil registry office (Standesamt). It contributes a festive celebration together with families and friends.
Further visual inspiration and (German) information you find under freie Trauung.
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Phone: +49 6104 802884 or +49 171 5477455 (cellular)
E-Mail: email@example.com
Best wishes and I look forward to hearing from you
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Prestigious wedding speaker, located in Frankfurt am Main, Rhine-Main, and available in all Germany.
Freelance protestant theologian focusing on English speaking Christian and non-religious marriage and wedding ceremonies in Deutschland.
Wedding ceremonies primarily in the Frankfurt, Wiesbaden, Heidelberg area; and on request in all parts of Germany.
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Mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Renting a car in tropical Darwin is a fantastic start to any holiday. Avoid fuss and waste no time at the airport with a little help from us. Thanks to our simple search engine and wide range of rental suppliers, booking a car from Darwin Airport has never been easier. You can get on the road with no worries and enjoy tropical north Queensland. In addition, you will see special offers featured on the Darwin Airport Car Rental home page.
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Darwin is a relaxed city, unique in its multiculturalism. Closer to the capitals of five other countries than to the capital of its own, the city's diversity comes as no surprise. The Asian-style Sunset Markets are a favorite amongst tourists and locals alike and offer food stalls from all over the world. The vast and awe-inspiring Kakadu National Park is close by, offering native rock art sites and all types of outdoor recreation in its varied landscapes. From Darwin, the famed Stuart Highway leads down into the Mighty Outback, to Alice Springs and beyond. This is the perfect adventurous road trip for any traveler - just be sure to keep stocked up on petrol and food, as service stations can be few and far between!
Be sure to book in advance if you wish to travel during peak periods. These include holidays such as Christmas and New Year, Easter and Australian public holidays. The dry season is widely considered the best time to visit Darwin, as it is still warm, but there is not so much rain. This runs from May to October. Always try to plan ahead to secure the right vehicle. You also have an option to go on Cheap Cruises available from Darwin, pick out the perfect itinerary for your holiday in Australia's far north!
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