Abstract: A pultrusion die is usually fashioned of multiple pieces. One or more die components, and possibly all die components, can be formed by facing less precisely machined and finished tooling materials with highly polished sheet metal. Other possible die components can be formed from conventionally machined and polished steel surfaces. The surfaces that will form the inside of the die are highly polished. The components are fastened together in a pattern that will assure uniform pressure and good heat transfer among the components. The entrance and exit orifices are optionally provided with beveled edges to improve entrance of materials into and release of the finished product from the die.

Abstract: A pultrusion die is usually fashioned of multiple pieces. One or more die components, and possibly all die components, can be formed by facing less precisely machined and finished tooling materials with highly polished sheet metal. Other possible die components can be formed from conventionally machined and polished steel surfaces. The surfaces that will form the inside of the die are highly polished. The components are fastened together in a pattern that will assure uniform pressure and good heat transfer among the components. The entrance and exit orifices are optionally provided with beveled edges to improve entrance of materials into and release of the finished product from the die.

Abstract: A pultrusion method produces a composite structural member having rigid elements embedded therein. The structural member may be a sandwich structure in which one or more rigid, pre-rigidized, or rigidizable composite or non-composite structural elements are introduced at regular or irregular positions within core elements. The structural member may also be formed from layers of resin-matrix fiber fabric into a structural cross-section, such as an I-beam or T-beam, with a bundle of pre-pultruded rods located at the bends or the web-flange intersection points within layers.

Abstract: This invention is a method and apparatus for wetting fiber reinforcements with plastic or resin matrix materials. The fibers are impregnated with matrix material, associated into a tow, passed through a pultrusion die and degassed by applying a reduced pressure. The apparatus includes a pultrusion die having an elongated body having a longitudinally extending channel through which the tow is pulled, entrance and exit ports, a first, enlarged diameter cavity portion, at least one matrix material injection port for injecting matrix material under pressure into the first cavity and into the tow, and a second enlarged cavity portion having a low pressure application port for applying a pressure substantially below that of the first cavity. The apparatus may alternatively have only one enlarged cavity portion, with both injection and vacuum application ports, or alternatively, may be used with conventional wet bath equipment, where an enlarged cavity portion is used for vacuum application.