The present invention involves a carbon fiber-filled sheet molding compound and
method of manufacturing the same. The invention comprises providing chopped automotive
carbon fibers, a predetermined resin paste, a first carrier film, and a second
carrier film. The method further involves coating substantially completely one
side of one of the first and second carrier films with the predetermined resin
paste to define a coated side, depositing the chopped automotive carbon fibers
onto the coated side, and covering the deposited carbon fibers with the second
carrier film to define a compactible carbon-filled laminate. The method further
includes compacting the carbon-filled laminate to admix the resin paste with the
carbon fibers between the films, whereby to form the automotive carbon fiber-filled
sheet molding compound.
