ABSTRACT
Pultrusion has become a process of considerable importance among the reinforced plastics processing options. The characteristics of the process that have allowed successful applications in every market segment are the tremendous versatility of both the profile geometric and material composition designs and the processing enhancements available. In addition there are many finished product design features that are the exclusive domain of this process such as the production of multiple-cell hollows, unlimited length capability, and the highest aligned fiber volume achievable of any of the processing options. In the competition for applications, however, the bottom line is often cost effectiveness, and it is here that the pultrusion process's continuous manufacturing environment is unparalleled. Yet the pultrusion process has limitations as well that must be recognized to avoid misapplications. The objective of this chapter is to provide engineers, designers, and end users with the background necessary for consideration of pultrusion as a low-cost method of product manufacture to satisfy composite engineering objectives.
