pultrúziós

Pultrúziós is a Hungarian term derived from the English word “pultrusion,” a manufacturing process used to produce continuous, high-strength composite materials. The technique involves feeding a continuous filament of fiber reinforcement—commonly glass, carbon, or aramid—through a resin bath, where it is impregnated with a thermosetting resin. After impregnation, the wet fiber prepreg is pulled through a heated die that shapes the composite into a predetermined cross‑section and simultaneously cures the resin, forming a rigid, often pre‑fused part. The process is typically carried out in a single continuous cycle, allowing the production of long, seamless edges with uniform mechanical properties.

The history of pultrusion dates back to the 1960s in the United States, initially developed for aerospace and marine applications. Since the 1980s, the technique has been adapted worldwide, including in Hungary, where local manufacturers produce pultruded profiles for construction, automotive, and electrical industries. Machines range from small laboratory setups to large industrial plants capable of producing hundreds of meters per hour.

Advantages of pultruded composites include high strength‑to‑weight ratio, excellent resistance to corrosion, and consistent fiber distribution along the length of the part. The process can also integrate functional reinforcements, such as embedded conduits, and allows for the use of a wide variety of resin systems including epoxy, polyester, and unsaturated polyester. Limitations involve the relatively limited shapes that can be formed compared to other manufacturing techniques, the need for precise control of resin viscosity, and higher upfront equipment costs.

In contemporary engineering contexts, pultrusion is favoured for structural components such as beams, columns, water‑tube roofing panels, and handrails, where its predictable mechanical behaviour and low maintenance requirements provide a competitive advantage.