Pipeline
There are two methods of manufacturing FRP pipes – Filament Winding (FW) and Centrifugal Casting (CC).
FIBRPRO® can provide pipes made from these processes.
Filament winding process involves winding filaments under tension over a rotating mandrel, and it is well suited to automation, and there are many applications, such as pipe for airduct and small pressure vessel that are wound and cured without any human intervention.
Centrifugal Casting FRP is a composite material consisting of three components and can be classified as a thermosetting plastic. Base materials for manufacture are unsaturated polyester resins as bonding agent, chopped glass fibers as reinforcement and quartz sand as aggregate.
During the fully automated centrifugal casting process, components are fed into the mold using special programmes to electronically control the timing and dosing of the materials to produce the desired wall structure. The pipe wall structure is built up from its exterior surface. When all the materials have been positioned in the mold, the rotation speed is increased.
Comparisons between FW and CC processes
In the FW process continuous strands of glass fibre are wound around a mould and resin and filler are also applied to gradually build up the pipe wall to the required thickness. This results in a pipe wall that is made up of a number of layers or laminates, which can be prone to delamination under extreme conditions as below figures.
Delamination of filament winging (FW) FRP pipe
CC pipes are not prone to this delamination as the production method is completely different. Due to the centrifugal forces the materials are pressed against the wall of the mould under enormous pressure and the compound materials are compacted and de-aerated completely. This manufacturing technology assures the production of pipes with high density walls free of voids and evenly smooth surface all over their length.
The curing of the pipes proceeds in the rotating mould, so that an exact roundness with constant wall thickness over the whole length of the pipe is guaranteed. Upon completion of the polymerization process, the finished pipe is extracted from the mould. The outside surface of the pipe is completely smooth and has the same outside diameter all over its length.
Advantages of FIBRPRO®-DFBH CC FRP Pipe Systems provide:
- Excellent chemical and corrosion resistance.
- High stiffness. Ability to resist high static loads.
- Smooth internal surface. High hydraulic efficiency. High abrasive resistance.
- High durability. Long service life.
- Resistant to UV light and frost.
- Constant outside diameter.
- Choice of fittings.
- Light weight pipe with push-fit sleeve coupling.
- Couplings can accommodate angular deflection.
- Excellent whole life cycle cost based on a minimum 50 year design life.