What is the Pultrusion Process?
The Pultrusion Process is a continuous manufacturing method used to produce continuous lengths of reinforced polymer structural shapes with constant cross-sections (like rods, tubes, and beams).
The process involves the following steps:
- Feeding: Continuous fiberglass rovings and mats are pulled from creels.
- Resin Impregnation: The fibers are pulled through a resin bath where they are thoroughly saturated with a thermosetting resin mixture (typically polyester, vinyl ester, or epoxy).
- Pre-forming: The wet fibers pass through pre-forming guides that shape them into the desired profile.
- Heated Die: The shaped, resin-soaked fibers enter a heated steel die. The heat initiates a chemical reaction, curing and hardening the resin.
- Pulling and Cutting: The solid, cured profile is continuously pulled from the die by a pulling mechanism and then cut to the desired length by a traveling saw.
Pultruded products are known for their high tensile strength, lightweight nature, and excellent corrosion resistance.
