This paper describes the possibility of the use of paper twines as core reinforcement in thermoset pultruded sandwich composites. Paper twines and glass fiber rovings were co-impregnated with polyester resin and co-pultruded to form sandwich rods. Pultruded sandwich rods were up to 26% lighter with regard to typical monolithic glass fiber reinforced polyester rods. The specific flexural strength and Young's modulus of the sandwich rods were up to 25% higher than those of monolithic glass fiber/polyester commercial rods. Thanks to its light weight and its availability as a continuous twine, paper twines may be used with great flexibility in pultrusion of sandwich structures. This may lead to up to 20–30% weight reduction and cost saving without losing flexural performance.
Watson JH, Inventor. Douglas Aircraft Company Inc., Assignee. Heating element for sheet-metal shaping machines. Patent #2,432,463, US, 1947.
2.
Meek MJ, Inventors. Sam M. Shobert, Bernhard C. Hagquist, Assignees. Method for fabricating glass rod. Patent #2,684,318, US, 1954.
3.
White RB, Inventor. Glastic Corporation, Assignee. Manufacture of articles from thermosetting materials. Patent #2,818,606, US, 1958.
4.
Goldsworthy WB, Landgraf F, Inventors. Glastrusions I, Assignee. Apparatus for producing elongated articles from fiber-reinforced plastic material. Patent #2,871,911, US, 1959.
5.
Lucintel. Growth opportunities in the pultrusion market 2016–2021: global market outlook, USA: Lucintel, 2015.
6.
LackeyEVaughanJGInamdarK, et al.Statistical characterization of pultruded composites with natural fiber reinforcements. J Nat Fibers2008; 4: 73–87.
7.
AkilHMLeongWCIshakZAM, et al.Water absorption study on pultruded jute fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites. Compos Sci Tecnol2009; 69: 1942–1948.
8.
El-ShekeilYASapuanSMAbdanK, et al.Influence of fiber content on the mechanical and thermal properties of kenaf fiber reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane composites. Mater Des2012; 40: 299–303.
9.
NosbiNAkilHMIshakZAM, et al.Degradation of compressive properties of pultruded kenaf fiber reinforced composites after immersion in various solutions. Mater Des2010; 31: 4960–4964.
10.
PengXFanMHartleyJ, et al.Properties of natural fiber composites made by pultrusion process. J Compos Mater2012; 46: 237–246.
11.
SafieeSAkilHMMazukiAAM, et al.Properties of pultruded jute fiber reinforced unsaturated polyester composites. Adv Compos Mater2011; 20: 231–244.
12.
SinghBGuptaM. Performance of pultruded jute fibre reinforced phenolic composites as building materials for door frame. J Polym Environ2005; 13: 127–137.
13.
Van de VeldeKKiekensP. Thermoplastic pultrusion of natural fibre reinforced composites. Compos Struct2001; 54: 355–360.
14.
Nguyen-ChangTFriedrichKMennigG. Processability of pultrusion using natural fiber and thermoplastic matrix. Res Lett Mater Sci2007, pp. 1–5. DOI: 10.1155/2007/37123.
AkilHMDe RosaIMSantulliC, et al.Flexural behaviour of pultruded jute/glass and kenaf/glass hybrid composites monitored using acoustic emission. Mater Sci Eng2010; A527: 2942–2950.
17.
AkilHMSantulliCSaraziniF, et al.Environmental effects on the mechanical behaviour of pultruded jute/glass fibre-reinforced polyester hybrid composites. Compos Sci Technol2014; 94: 62–70.
18.
HazizanMAIgorMDRCarloS, et al.Flexural behavior of pultruded jute/glass and kenaf/glass hybrid composites monitored using acoustic emission. Mater Sci Eng2010; A527: 2942–2950.
19.
Chtourou H, Ricard MA, Page N, Tchapda GN, Reynolds M, Lyman B, Inventors. Methods for making repulpable paper strings and straps through pultrusion process and related devices for the same. Patent pending #20160355981, 2016.
20.
Chtourou H, Ricard M, inventors. FPInnovations P-C, assignee. Method for producing continuous composite sandwich structures by pultrusion. Patent pending #20170305078, 2017.
