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<>Vacuum Pultrusion
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<><I>This is a Teaching Company Scheme project supported by Tufnol Engineering, Perry Barr, Birmingham. The Teaching Company Associate is Dr Andrew Hulme</I>
<>Vacuum Pultrusion is a novel process for continuous manufacture of glass reinforced composite profiles.
The distinguishing feature of the process is the simultaneous manufacture of a lightweight core and a glass-fibre reinforced resin skin.
The cored profile is cost-competitive with a hollow profile such as a tube or channel manufactured by conventional pultrusion but its construction eliminates the need for a fixed steeel mandrel within the die. This has the advantages of
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reducing the cost of tooling
reducing considerably the pullling force
providing more uniform temperature control during manufacture
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Manufacture of a Curtain PoleOne of the first commercial applications for this technology is the manufacture of a curtain pole. This will replace non-sustainable hardwood poles. The requirements of a pole include
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The cross-section of a pole comprises a core made up of a mixture of expanded clay and a thermosetting resin, and a skin that is made up of a an inner veil of fabric, a composite of glass rovings and resin, and an outer veil that is printed with an attractive pettern.
<>It is manufactured by combining a vacuum delivery system downstream of a resin-injection pultrusion die.</P>