Processes

Pultrusion is a continuous process for manufacturing composite profiles and structural shapes in which glass fiber reinforcements are saturated in resin and pulled through a heated die where the part is formed and cured.

Our continuous filament mat and veils are ideally suited for challenging pultrusion applications to provide improved structural properties, clean trim and punchability, and enhanced surface qualities.

Features & Benefits:

• Conformability in thin complex profiles
• Excellent wet-through and wet-out
• High processing tensile strength
• Provides structural strength in the transverse direction
• Lighter weight reduces cost
• Loft of material better fills die cavity
• Corrosion resistant
• Resin-rich surface improves UV resistance
• Epoxy and phenolic capabilities

Products applicable to this market:

• CFM M8643, M8636, M8686
• Surmat® (20 mil, 30 mil)
• Conformat® N720, N721, N751

Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) is a processes where continuous filament reinforcements are placed into an closed mold and resin is pumped into the mold cavity.

Vacuum Infusion is a process where continuous filament reinforcements are placed into an open mold and covered by a flexible material. Resin is then pulled into the mold at lower than atmospheric pressure with the assistance of a vacuum at one end to eliminate voids, air entrapment, and excess resin build up.

Features & Benefits:

• Provides an ideal resin surface content
• Used as flow media, reduces injection time
• Improved structural performance
• Maintains mat-wash resistance

Products applicable to this market:

• CFM M8610, M8635, M8635D1, M8635D2
• Surmat® (10 mil – 40 mil)
• Conformat N758, N758XS, N786, N863

Compression Molding is a closed mold process by which glass fiber and thermosetting resins are placed in an open mold cavity and then subjected to high pressures as a matched die compresses the material and the resin is cured.

Features & Benefits:

• Better surface appearance
• Easy to trim, punch, machine and sand finished laminates
• Reduces labor cost in post-processing
• Epoxy and phenolic capabilities

Products applicable to this market:

• CFM M8610, M8612, M8615, M8635, M8636, M8686
• Surmat® (10 mil – 30 mil)
• Conformat N700, N786, N863

Preforming is a technique in which thermoformable continuous filament material is shaped to the desired contours of a finished part and then cured into a rigid state that matches the shape of the part to be molded.

Features & Benefits:

• Reduces molding cycle times
• Improves surface appearance
• Reduces labor cost
• More accurate glass placement

Products applicable to this market:

• Conformat N767XS
• CFM M8675 (under development)

Glass Fiber Reinforced Gypsum is an open-mold, hand lay-up process in which gypsum plaster is combined with continuous filament glass veils and reinforcements to yield a thin, structurally sound, lightweight, non-flammable finished part.

Features & Benefits:

• Provides greater part strength
• Complete range of lightweight reinforcements
• More fibers to fill small areas of the mold and part thickness

Products applicable to this market:

• Surmat® 200 (10 mil – 30 mil)
• Conformat N700 (0.25 oz/ft2 – 0.50 oz/ft2)

Continuous Lamination is an automated process where continuous filament veil is used in combination with chopped roving to produce continuous laminated panels. These panels are cured and cut to desired lengths.

Features & Benefits:

• Enhances surface characteristics
• Adds strength to thin panels
• Improves transparency
• Corrosive environment applications

Product applicable to this market:

• Surmat® (7 mil – 20 mil)

SRIM is a continuous filament reinforcement placed into an open mold. Thermosetting urethane resin is then mixed/injected at high pressure into the closed mold.

Features & Benefits:

• Increased strength with continuous strand filament
• Lighter weights offer cost reduction
• Loft of material better fills die cavity to eliminate multiple layers

Products applicable to this market:

• CFM M8610
• Surmat® 200 (7 mil – 30 mil)
• Conformat N751, N863

Filament Winding is an automated process where a rotating mandrel is initially wound with a continuous filament veil to provide a corrosion-resistant inner liner. The mandrel is then wrapped with roving and is often covered with a second layer of veil on the exterior to provide a resin-rich surface.

Features & Benefits:

• Better corrosion resistance in acidic environments
• Improved weatherability for exterior surface

Product applicable to this market:

• Surmat® 100SF (7 mil – 30 mil)

Our reinforcement products can be combined with various engineered fabrics by means of mechanical bonding. This creates an advanced, preassembled input for your particular fiber reinforced process.

Features & Benefits:

• Provides an ideal surface appearance
• Enhanced resin flow media
• Omni-directional strengthening
• Reduced risk of shearing
• Maintains mat-wash resistance

Products applicable to this market:

• CFM (Entire product line)
• Surmat®
• Conformat®