Development of a new pultrusion equipment to manufacture thermoplastic matrix composite profiles

摘要

This paper describes the design and manufacture ofa low-cost full scale pultrusion prototypeequipment and discusses the production and obtainedmechanical properties ofpolypropylene/glass (GF/PP) reinforced composite bars fabricated by using the prototypeequipment. Three different GF/PP pre-impregnated raw-materials, a commercial GF/PPcomingled system from Vetrotex, a GF/PP powder coated towpreg [1-3] and, a GF/PP pre-consolidated tape (PCT) produced in our laboratories, were used in the production ofcomposite bars that were subsequently submitted tomechanical testing in order to determinethe relevant mechanical properties and quantify theconsolidation quality. Samples of thedifferent composite profiles were also observed under SEM microscopy.