Corvette Material
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
RRIM
Reinforced Reaction Injection Molding (RRIM) describes a method often seen in automotive applications. This method differs from conventional injection molding in that polymerization, via a chemical reaction, occurs in the mold as opposed to melting and cooling to form a solid polymer. RRIM is further characterized by inclusion of reinforcement additives to provide improved physical properties
SMC
Sheet Molding Compound (SMC)
DescriptionA fiberglass reinforced thermosetting compound manufactured by dispersing long stands (>1”) of chopped glass fibers on a bath of polyester resin. The longer glass fibers in SMC result in better strength properties than standard BMC products. Typical applications include demanding electrical applications, corrosion resistant needs, structural components at low cost, automotive, and transit.
DescriptionA fiberglass reinforced thermosetting compound manufactured by dispersing long stands (>1”) of chopped glass fibers on a bath of polyester resin. The longer glass fibers in SMC result in better strength properties than standard BMC products. Typical applications include demanding electrical applications, corrosion resistant needs, structural components at low cost, automotive, and transit.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: San Francisco CA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Riva MD
I find it interesting that the Corvette is still made Body-On-Frame, like cars used to be made (as well as most current trucks) versus the unibody of almost everything else made now.
Can you make a composite unibody? Would you want to?
Can you make a composite unibody? Would you want to?
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,194
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From: Euless Texas
I don't think so, as the unibody's strength comes from the body shell, and the composite panels don't offer much, if any, structural rigidity.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Virginia Beach VA
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,’18,’19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I've heard that Z06s have an aluminum frame so does that mean that if the vette in the diagram was a Z06 that number 2 & 3 would both be aluminum?
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,266
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From: Bonsall CA
Darned interesting...I still thought they were fiberglass!!
While none of the C6 is fiberglass in the conventional sense. With that said, RRIM and SMC both can be considered fiberglass, just not in the conventional sense. All of the exterior panels on the C6 Corvette are a composite of sorts.
RRIM
one of the primary "reinforcement" methods is milled glass fibers.
SMC
RRIM
one of the primary "reinforcement" methods is milled glass fibers.
SMC
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Fairview Heights IL
If I recall correctly what I was told by my R8C guide, all Corvette body panels are (and always have been) made exclusively by California boat-builder Glastron. In the early days they used crude fiberglas and resin in open molds. The invention of sheet molded composite (SMC - U.S. patent 3957556) in the mid-1970s vastly improved the strength, durability, finish, and dimensional quality of panel construction. The Corvette's separate frame and body panels design is a bit of a throwback to olden days, but it works beautifully.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Los Alamos "The Atomic City" New Mexico
I'm still amazed at the number of folks that still think a 'Vette body is steel and are surprised when I tell them that our cars have been made of "fiberglass" since the first one rolled off the assembly line. And yeah, I realize that the '53s were not built on what we think of as an assembly line today.
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
If I recall correctly what I was told by my R8C guide, all Corvette body panels are (and always have been) made exclusively by California boat-builder Glastron. In the early days they used crude fiberglas and resin in open molds. The invention of sheet molded composite (SMC - U.S. patent 3957556) in the mid-1970s vastly improved the strength, durability, finish, and dimensional quality of panel construction. The Corvette's separate frame and body panels design is a bit of a throwback to olden days, but it works beautifully.
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
That would be correct for item 2 which is the frame. The bumpers on the Z06 are still made from steel and use the same bumpers as the non-Z06 C6.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: San Francisco CA
I'm still amazed at the number of folks that still think a 'Vette body is steel and are surprised when I tell them that our cars have been made of "fiberglass" since the first one rolled off the assembly line. And yeah, I realize that the '53s were not built on what we think of as an assembly line today.
They will never want to be in one and will question the safety of the Corvette.
