Simulation of resin-impregnation, heat-transfer and cure in a resin-injection pultrusion process

In this paper has a numerical framework for multiphysical simulation of resin-impregnation, heat-transfer and cure in a resin-injection pultrusion process been developed. Using the framework, the material flow through the pultrusion die was studied for the manufacture of a 100 mm thick glass fibre reinforced polyurethane (thermoset) composite profile. The results demonstrated that while curing is initiated near the heated die-walls, a yet stronger reaction is simultaneously obtained at the centre of the profile. The results were qualitatively compared to measurements from an industrial pultrusion line, which confirmed the trends of the material flow.