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Pultrusion
Dr. Dmitri Kopeliovich
Pultrusion is an automated, highly productive process of fabrication of Polymer Matrix Composites in form of continuous long products of constant cross-section.
A scheme of the process is presented on the picture:
Pultrusion process involves the following operations:
- Reinforcing fibers are pulled from the creels. Fiber (roving) creels may be followed by rolled mat or fabric creels. Pulling action is controlled by the pulling system.
- Guide plates collect the fibers into a bundle and direct it to the resin bath.
- Fibers enter the resin bath where they are wetted and impregnated with liquid resin. Liquid resin contains thermosetting polymer, pigment, fillers, catalyst and other additives.
- The wet fibers exit the bath and enter preformer where the excessive resin is squeezed out from fibers and the material is shaped.
- The preformed fibers pass through the heated die where the final cross-section dimensions are determined and the resin curing occurs.
- The cured product is cut on the desired length by the cut-off saw.
Pultrusion process is characterized by the following features:
- High productivity.
- The process parameters are easily controllable.
- Low manual labor component.
- Precise cross-section dimensions of the products.
- Good surface quality of the products.
- Homogeneous distribution and high concentration of the reinforcing fibers in the material is achieved (up to 80% of roving reinforcement, up to 50% of mixed mat + roving reinforcement).
Pultrusion is used for fabrication of Fiberglasses, Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites and Kevlar (aramid) fiber reinforced polymers.
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