High Mechanical Strength
Pultruded profiles offer excellent tensile, compressive, and flexural strength, especially in the longitudinal direction (parallel to the fibers). This makes them suitable for structural applications where high load-bearing capacity is required.
Lightweight
These materials have a significantly lower density than steel or aluminum, facilitating handling, transport, and installation without the need for heavy machinery.
High Corrosion Resistance
Unlike metals, pultruded profiles are highly resistant to aggressive environments such as exposure to chemicals, humidity, or salt spray. This makes them ideal for marine, industrial, or any applications where long-lasting, maintenance-free performance is required.
Low Thermal Conductivity
With a low coefficient of thermal expansion, pultruded profiles maintain their shape and dimensions even under thermal fluctuations or extreme environmental conditions, ensuring long-term reliability in outdoor use.
Electrical Insulation
Pultruded materials are non-conductive, making them an excellent choice for electrical and insulation applications. They are widely used in poles, dielectric ladders, guardrails in substations, and similar environments.
Durability
Thanks to their resistance to wear, weathering, and chemical exposure, pultruded profiles require little to no maintenance throughout their service life, reducing operating costs.
Design Versatility
The pultrusion process allows the production of profiles with varied geometries tailored to specific requirements, as well as the incorporation of different reinforcements to modify structural behavior. The use of thermoplastic resins adds flexibility to the design, enabling adjustments to the final section and delivering more versatile and efficient solutions.
Transparency to Wireless Signals
Pultruded materials are transparent to radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic waves. They do not interfere with telecommunications, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, or 4G/5G signals, and do not cause electromagnetic shielding (EMI), unlike metals.
Sustainability
Pultrusion is a continuous and automated process that consumes significantly less energy than traditional steel or aluminum manufacturing. Their long durability and low maintenance reduce the need for replacements, thereby lowering the energy demand associated with the production and transport of new materials.
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Matrix or Resin
The matrix is the component that binds and gives cohesion to the reinforcement, while also performing key functions such as:
- Fixing the fibers into the desired geometry.
- Transmitting mechanical stresses to the fibers.
- Protecting the fibers against compression and external agents.
- Contributing to the durability of the profile.
Types of Resins Used
The choice of resin depends on the profile’s requirements, such as temperature resistance, chemical resistance, or UV exposure. Pultrusion primarily uses thermosetting resins due to their strong mechanical performance:
- Unsaturated Isophthalic Polyester – Good cost-to-performance ratio.
- Vinyl Ester – High chemical and thermal resistance.
- Epoxy – Maximum mechanical strength and adhesion.
- Flame-Retardant Resins (Bs1d0) – For applications requiring fire resistance.
- Recyclable or Thermoplastic Resins – A more sustainable option, also allowing modifications of the final profile cross-section.
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Reinforcement Fibers
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Types and Lay-Up of Reinforcement
The efficiency of a profile also depends on the internal lay-up of the reinforcement. Depending on the mechanical requirements, the following are used:
- Unidirectional Fibers – The most common in pultrusion; aligned in the longitudinal direction for maximum strength.
- Mats, Fabrics, and Combined Reinforcements – Added when reinforcement is required in other directions.
- Surface Veils – Improve UV resistance and provide a better surface finish.
