Composite Utility Poles
Industry
Infrastructure
Application
Company makes epoxy/glass utility poles through filament winding process.
Problem
Company was not using a film to overwrap the composite pole sections prior to cure. Resulting surface finish was rough, filled with air voids, and inconsistent from part to part.
Dunstone Solution
Hi-Shrink 210R (.002" thick, 10% shrink, release coated polyester shrink tape)
Implementaion
After applying final polyester veil for surface finish characteristics, the customer now spiral wraps the Dunstone Hi-Shrink tape 2.0" wide down the length of the part. The 210R tape provides compaction on the fiber bundle, and a consistent, resin rich surface finish. The 210R tape will also prevent resin pooling at the bottom of the part during cure, since the pole sections are not rotated in the oven during cure. The PTFE release coat allows the tape to be cleanly removed after cure and gives a consistent finish part to part.