Composite Materials Research Group

Pultrusion Manufacturing

A modified PTI Pulstar 804 commercial pultrusion machine is used to to conduct experiments for characterization of the pultrusion process. The CMRG has numerous dies available to pultrude shapes ranging from test coupons to structural shapes. This data acquisition and capabilities of this pultruder have been upgraded to provide the specialized control and data acquisition capabilities necessary for research. It is capable of pull forces up to five tons, clamp forces up to 10 tons, and speed up to 120 in/min. Ole Miss is the most recognized universities with commercial-scale pultrusion facilities. The CMRG has conducted numerous research projects related to the evaluation and optimization of new pultrusion resin systems and pultrusion process development. Many of these research projects are conducted in conjunction with companies involved in the composite materials industry. The CMRG at UM has experience working with a wide variety of resin systems -- epoxies, polyesters, cyanate esters, PEEK, BMI, polyesters, and phenolics -- and numerous types of reinforcements. Recent research activities have appeared in journals such as Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites and Journal of Composite Materials and have been presented at International SAMPE Symposia and the Composites Fabricators Association (CFA). CMRG pultrusion research presentations received best paper awards from CFA in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003.