PULTRUSION

Pultrusion is a technique which pulls the fibres, instead of pushing them, and by which we manufacture continuous linear composite profiles with constant section. This process firstly pulls the carbon fibres through an epoxy resin bath and then through a heated die where the curing process takes place. The finished products have an excellent traction resistance feature due to the linear orientation of their fibres along their length. When also a trasversal traction resistance is needed we add different bearing fabrics in quantity and weight suitable to the requirements. It is not possible to change shapes, section or bendings, unless particular tools are utilized. We can produce profiles with section or thickness up to about 15 mm using epoxy resin and up to 70 mm using polyester resin.

WRAPPING

Wrapping is a technique by which the fibres, impregnated with epoxy resin, are pulled and crosswinded on a spindle. The pipes produced in this way have better mechanical characteristics and better performances.

Wrapped pipes can be very thin and highly resistant and are suitable to make rolls for the paper industry and other applications.

Their shape can be tapered and varied in its linearity on the whole length of the profile. In this case, particular combinative or soluble spindles are used, in order to remove them easily after polymerization process.

The polymerization process takes place in furnace or in autoclave to maximize mechanical characteristics.

FILAMENT WINDING

This is a peculiar production technique to obtain ropes with a flat or convex internal section. The process consists in constant crosswise directions winding around a spindle of reinforcing fibres impregnated in resin until the necessary resistance and thickness are obtained. The helicoidal crosswise disposition of the fibres and the resin impregnation maximize the resistance of these products, giving them mechanical characteristics closer to the fibre utilized. The final curing process of the product takes place in furnace at different temperatures, depending on the resin used, without pressure, or in autoclave with the mould into a sack. When the curing process is completed the spindle can be removed and reused.

PULLFORMING

Computerized slow production of composites with various sections. This process is similar to pultrusion. The fibres are first pulled through a resin bath and then through a heated open mould divided into two parts. When the mould is closed the curing cycle begins. The pullforming process is slower than the pultrusion one and uses a smaller percentage of fibre. However with this pliable technique we can obtain curvy products with different thickness or single profiles with a particular shape and dimension or also continuous profiles repeating the mould, still granting good mechanical features.

AUTOCLAVE

High quality composites production, also for complex shapes, with reduced vacuum presence. This a mainly manual process where all layers are prepared and laid in the mould in order to obtain a product with specific characteristics. The process is completed with the application of releasing and absorbing substances and closing the mould into a bag to create the vacuum. The moulds used in this process can be made of iron, ceramic or polymers. The metallic ones are much more precise and can have a complex shape, but on the other hand, due to their thermal expansion we have a consequent dimensional variation of the composites.