Composites One Streamlines Pultrusion Process for Manufacturers

A continuous and highly automated process, pultrusion is a cost-effective way to manage high volume production runs of constant cross section parts. A combination of the words “pull,” and “extrusion,” pultrusion uses a caterpillar tread-like system to pull fiber through a catalyzed resin bath and into a heated metal die in the shape of the desired part. Pultruded standard shapes include I-beams, channels, angles, beams, rods, bars, tubing, and sheets. The wetted fiber is compacted and cured as it passes through the die, and automated saws synchronized to line speed cut the cured profile to length.

Alternatively, a wet-out system injects the resin directly into a heated die. From there, multiple fiber streams are pultruded in a single die with several cavities. Hollow or multiple-cell parts are created when the wetted fiber wraps around heated mandrels extending through the die.

If a part requires off-axis structural strength, mat and/or stitched fabrics can be folded into the material package before entering the die.

Depending on the eventual application of the part, pultrusion can use fiberglass and thermoset resins like polyester, vinyl ester, epoxy and phenolic. Carbon fiber and knitted and hybrid reinforcements may also be appropriate, depending on how the end product needs to perform.

Composites One has a team of pultrusion experts to help you streamline this process

Composites One helps streamline pultrusion by helping manufacturers select the right product and process. We have the only dedicated technical support team in the industry, including pultrusion experts, who can help educate manufacturers about new processes, technologies and applications that can help them set up a customized pultustion process to meet their specific needs. To learn more about how we can help you with your pultrusion process, contact our technical specialists at Composites One today.