The operator loads a glass fiber preform into the mold. The Baydur 425 HD-SRIM material is injected into the mold, and the mold closes, forcing the SRIM material to encapsulate the preform. The SRIM material cures rapidly to produce a composite box. A finished truck box has a uniform wall thickness of just 3 millimeters. Combined with RRIM fenders and a composite tailgate panel, the composite box reduces the truck's total weight by 50 pounds compared to a steel box and tailgate.
Secondary operations are minimal because many features are molded in.
Jensen said GM also specifies the Baydur 425 HD-SRIM system to mold the inside panel of the tailgate and polyurea RRIM for the exterior panel. Bayer Corporation is a research-based company with major businesses in health care and life sciences and chemicals.