A method of forming a molding mat formed bundles of reinforcing fibers and
bonding materials is provided. The reinforcing fibers are preferably wet
use chopped strand glass fibers (WUCS). The bonding materials may be any
thermosetting material having a melting point less than the reinforcing
fiber. The molding mat may be formed by partially opening the wet use
chopped strand glass fibers and filamentizing the bonding materials,
blending the reinforcement and bonding fibers, forming the reinforcement
and bonding fibers into a sheet, and bonding the sheet. During bonding,
the sheet is heated to a temperature above the melting point of the
bonding fibers but below the temperature of the glass fibers. The molding
mat thus formed may be used as a reinforcement material in sheet molding
compounds.