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Venting & Temperature Control in BMC/SMC Tooling——Key Factors for Stable Molding and Consistent Part Quality

Date | 2026-01-12 07:55:48

In BMC/SMC thermoset molding, venting and temperature control are two of the most critical—yet often underestimated—factors in mold design.
Improper venting can cause gas traps, burns, and surface defects, while unstable temperature control may lead to incomplete curing, warpage, or inconsistent mechanical performance.

For high-reliability applications such as electrical, rail, automotive, and industrial components, these two systems directly determine molding stability and product consistency.

BMC tooling

1. Venting Design: Managing Gas Release During Curing

Unlike thermoplastics, BMC and SMC materials release gases during the curing reaction.
If gases cannot escape efficiently, defects such as short shots, burn marks, porosity, or surface blistering may occur.

Key Venting Design Principles

  • Vent depth: typically 0.01–0.03 mm, depending on fiber length and resin viscosity

  • Vent width: wide enough to release gas efficiently without causing flash

  • Vent location: placed at the end of flow paths and potential air-trap areas

  • Progressive venting: multi-stage venting is recommended for large or complex parts

Well-designed venting ensures:

  • Complete cavity filling

  • Reduced internal stress

  • Improved surface finish

  • Lower reject rates in mass production

2. Temperature Control: Ensuring Uniform and Complete Curing

Thermoset materials are highly sensitive to temperature.
Uneven mold temperature may result in partial curing, internal cracks, or dimensional instability.

Recommended Temperature Control Parameters

  • Typical mold surface temperature: 140–170°C (depending on formulation)

  • Temperature deviation across cavity surface: ≤ ±5°C

  • Independent heating zones for complex or thick-walled parts

Heating System Design Considerations

  • Optimized heater placement for uniform heat distribution

  • Avoidance of local overheating near gates or thick sections

  • Stable temperature feedback control to ensure process repeatability

Effective temperature control leads to:

  • Consistent curing degree

  • Stable mechanical and electrical properties

  • Reduced cycle time

  • Improved mold life

SMC mold design

3. Venting and Temperature: A Coupled System

In BMC/SMC tooling, venting and temperature control must be designed together.
Higher mold temperatures accelerate curing—but also increase gas release speed.
Without proper venting, this combination may intensify defects rather than eliminate them.

A balanced design approach ensures:

  • Controlled material flow

  • Predictable curing behavior

  • High process stability in long production runs

4. Jintong’s Approach to BMC/SMC Tooling Design

With over 20 years of experience in thermoset materials and tooling, Wenzhou Jintong designs molds from a material-driven perspective.

Our advantages include:

  • Deep understanding of BMC/SMC curing behavior

  • Proven venting strategies for complex electrical components

  • Precision temperature control design based on real production data

  • Close integration between mold design and molding process optimization

We believe that stable venting and precise temperature control are the foundation of high-quality thermoset products—not optional features.

BMC SMC curing control