PARAGON
COMPOSITE TUBING

ROLL FORMING

PULTRUSION

FILAMENT WINDING

This is our preferred process for the production of high quality composite tubes where accuracy and repeatability are paramount. Paragon is able to maximise the high degree of versatility for laminate design within this process.
 
The process involves the wrapping of a combination of ͚prepreg ͛ layers around mandrels. Prepregs are cloths with the resin already impregnated into them for post cure under heat. They are produced for a large number of composite materials in a wide range of weights in unidirectional, bi-directional and woven styles with strictly controlled fibre to resin ratios. 
 
This significant advantage comes however with the financial cost of introducing pre-processed materials in to the process.                                     
 
Heat shrink tapes are used to compress the laminate whilst under cure in the high temperature ovens.

The pultrusion process generally involves the pulling of dry fibre through a wet out bath into heated dies for cure. 
 
Solid rod extrusions and small diameter tubes are particularly suited to this process. Larger diameter round tube tends to suit the Pulwound and Pulbraided solutions.

The most significant advantage of the Pultrusion process is its suitability for a wide variety of sectional shapes determined by the dies. Although the dies can be expensive, for long runs the process can be very cost effective.
Paragon is involved in the design of triaxial tapes for inclusion with the unidirectional laminate to create higher performing products to maximise the benefits of this process.

​For Paragon filament winding is a useful process for large size, thick walled sections. 
 
The process utilizes male mandrels and the compaction and cure processes are the same or similar to those used for roll forming.  
 
In the production process prepreg or wet unidirectional fibre is wound onto the male mandrels. This can produce good results for non-circular sections however the consistency of fibre orientation and fibre to resin ratios can be a problem for smaller diameter tubes.
 
This process can be a cost effective solution for a variety of situations.