A1 Filament Winding Process
This appendix gives a short introduction to Sleurs Composites GRE equipment and product technology (GRE= Glass reinforced Epoxy pipe systems). The process is depicted schematically in Figure 1.
Figure 1: GRE Pipe production process
The pipe production sequence is as follows:
- The glass fibres are transported by means of supports to the resin tray where the glass will be impregnated by Epoxy resin.
- The impregnated glass will be applied on a rotating mandrel (mould) under a specified angle.
- This process will continuo until the required wall thickness is achieved.
- After this process the pipe with the mandrel is moved to a curing oven. The curing of the pipe takes approximate 1 hour under 180 Dgr C.
- After the pipe is cured the pipe will be extracted from the mandrel, this can be done mechanically or with water pressure. (preferable).
- The pipe is cut on the right length.
- On the next station the pipe ends will be machined to create a joint configuration.
- Than the pipe will be subjected to a quality control inspection including a Hydro-test.
An excellent strength-to-weight, Continuous, reinforced filaments, usually glass, in the form of roving are saturated with resin and machine-wound onto mandrels. The rovings are supplied through a uniquely Sleurs Composites designed transverse moving delivery system to a rotating mandrel. The speed of the feed relative to the mandrel rotation defines the winding angle. Once winding is completed, part and mandrel are cured; mandrel can then be removed by means of mechanical stripping or by water pressure. Due to the special Sleurs Composites glass delivery design, high-strength reinforcements can be oriented precisely in direction where strength is required.
Good uniformity of resin distribution in finished pipes is achieved with this process.
Figure 2: Filament winding process
