Methods of fabricating composite articles
Composite articles of manufacture and methods of making the same are provided herein. In one embodiment, a composite article includes a fiberglass component having a color of pantone 376C. Subjecting the fiberglass component to various environmental conditions result in the fiberglass component exhibiting a color of pantone 383C. Thus, the fiberglass component does not fade and become lighter or hazy in appearance, but takes on an appearance of deeper hue and/or saturation, providing longer life of the appearance of the fiberglass component.
1. A method of fabricating a fiberglass component, the method comprising:
providing a resin and a plurality of fiberglass fibers;
adding a pigment to the resin, wherein the resin becomes pigmented resin and exhibits a color of pantone 376C; and
adding the pigmented resin to the plurality of fiberglass fibers.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising forming a shape from the pigmented resin and fibers.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein forming the shape includes pultruding the shape.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein pultruding the shape includes forming a rail for a ladder.
5. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising altering the color to pantone 383C.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein altering the color to pantone 383C includes exposing the shape to UV rays.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pigmented resin is a polyurethane resin.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the polyurethane resin comprises polyol and isocyanate.
9. A method of fabricating a fiberglass component, the method comprising:
providing a resin and a plurality of fiberglass fibers;
adding a pigment to the resin to provide a color of pantone 376C;
forming a shape from the resin and the plurality of fiberglass fibers; and
altering the color of the resin to pantone 383C by exposing the shape to an environmental condition after forming the shape.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein exposing the shape to the environmental condition includes exposing the shape to ultraviolet (UV) rays.
11. A method of fabricating a fiberglass component, the method comprising:
providing a resin and a plurality of fiberglass fibers;
adding a pigment to the resin, wherein the resin comprises a first color;
forming a shaped article with the resin and the plurality of fiberglass fibers after adding the pigment;
exposing the shaped article to ultraviolet (UV) rays, thereby altering the first color of the resin to a second color, the second color being deeper than the first color in hue or saturation.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first color is pantone 376C.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second color is pantone 383C.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first color comprises a minimum absorbance of light having a wavelength of about 536 nanometers.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the second color comprises a minimum absorbance of light having a wavelength of about 558 nanometers or about 560 nanometers.