Pultruded fiberglass channels are produced by a pultrusion process in which reinforced fibers and liquid resin are combined to form a fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP.) It's then shaped into channels of various sizes and shapes to meet specific requirements.
The continuous length of the reinforcing fibers gives these lightweight channels their exceptional tensile strengths. They're available as structural pultrusions or pultruded electrical shapes.
When you work with our team of expert engineers on the production process, you can adjust the resin systems and glass content and change the composite matrices to produce pultruded fiberglass channels with different properties, such as high strength, high-temperature tolerance, flame-retardant, track-resistant, and corrosion-resistant.
In addition, pigments can be added during the pultrusion process to produce channels of various colors and a UV-resistant treatment can be used to increase the channels' durability -- making them ideal for outdoor applications.
Advantages Of Pultruded Fiberglass Channels
Pultruded fiberglass channels won't mildew, scale, rot, or rust and are superior to many traditional materials such as wood, steel, and aluminum thanks to their unique properties:
- Corrosive-resistant and chemical resistant: FRP is resistant to a broad range of chemicals and isn't affected by oxidation and corrosion, eliminating the cost associated with painting or galvanization.
- Lightweight yet high-strength: pultruded fiberglass channels can be 30% lighter than aluminum and 70% lighter than steel without sacrificing strength. In particular, it offers exceptional dimensional stability and its tensile strength is much higher than that of steel in a pound-to-pound comparison.
- Flexible and impact-resistant: FRP does not deform permanently under working load, which is distributed by the glass mat to prevent surface damage.
- Non-conductive: pultruded fiberglass channels are both electrically and thermally non-conductive, making it a safe option for many applications.
- Cost-efficient: pultruded fiberglass channels are economical to transport and easy to handle (e.g., cut and shaped using simple tools), reducing the overall cost of any project.
- Highly durable: since they don't deteriorate or rust, pultruded fiberglass channels have a long lifecycle with very low maintenance requirements and costs.
- EMI/RFI transparent: non-magnetic electromagnetic transparency makes pultruded fiberglass channels ideal for many specialized applications in which metal parts can create interference.
- Sustainability: the manufacturing, transport, and installation of pultruded FRP products are energy-efficient, require less heat, produce less wastage, and cause less pollution. In addition, FRP can have a lifecycle of 75-150 years and be recycled or reformed into other plastic-based products -- making it an eco-friendly choice for many industries (e.g., construction, manufacturing.)
Applications Of Pultruded Fiberglass Channels
Pultruded fiberglass channels are particularly useful in applications in which metals can't provide an ideal solution, e.g., where corrosion is a concern or lightweight structural shapes are required for easy installation
Thanks to their lightweight, easy installation, versatility, strength, durability, and long lifecycle, pultruded fiberglass channels are widely used in various industries including:
- Construction and Infrastructure: FRP is often used in outdoor construction projects thanks to its durability. They can be cut and shaped using simple tools for easy installation while the low maintenance requirements mean a low cost of ownership. In particular, pultruded fiberglass C-channels are commonly used as floor joints thanks to its high tensile strength and ease of installation. In addition, they are used in bridge components, corrosion-resistant guardrails, railway crossing arms, and highway sound barriers.
- Utility and Telecommunications: pultruded fiberglass channels' durability, non-conductivity, low maintenance requirements, and EMI/RFI transparency make them ideal for applications such as utility poles, cross arms, and line markers, electrical lines and trunking, wastewater and water treatment components, non-conductive ladder rails, and fiber optic cabling.
- Tool Manufacturing: FRP can be made into various shapes and sizes to create ergonomic shapes for handheld tools or devices. Its low-cost, versatile, reliable, and non-conductive properties make it a popular choice for manufacturers.
- Sporting, Recreational and Outdoor Equipment: pultruded fiberglass channels are often used in outdoor equipment that needs to withstand moisture, sunlight, heat, and heavy wear. They can be used for anything from outdoor furniture to high-performance sporting equipment such as golf clubs, hockey sticks, sailing equipment, paddles, ski poles.
Pultruded Fiberglass Channels: Turning Design Concept Into Reality
For over 22 years, Tencom's expert engineers have helped designers, builders, and manufacturers in various industries turn design ideas into reality. We can help you customize FRP components and implement them into the manufacturing process, so you can get the right product at the right time and at the right price.
