Paper number 979

INFLUENCE OF VARIOUS DEFECTS ON THE QUALITY AND THE DURABILITY OF COMPOSITE PIPES

Philippe Castaing¹, Alain Dessarthe¹, Alain Lemasçon¹, Didier LeYhuélic¹, Hubert Mallard²

1Department of Polymers & Composites,CETIM, 74, route de la Jonelière, BP82617,
44326 Nantes Cedex 3, France
2Department of Mechanical Calculations,CETIM, 74, route de la Jonelière,
BP82617,44326 Nantes Cedex 3, France

Summary

The purpose of this document is to review tests concerning the quality and the durability of composite pipes in which various defects were inserted during the manufacturing process. The material studied are of three types : a glass fibre - orthophthalic polyester (ORTHO), a glass fibre - isophthalic polyester (ISO) and a glass fibre - DGEBA epoxy pipes (EPOXY). Regarding the defects inserted during manufacturing, the aim is to evaluate the : - influence of the rate of fibre impregnation by resin, - influence of the cure, - influence of the rate of catalysts for the polyester pipes, - influence of the winding angle, - influence of the glass fiber humidity, on the quality and durability. Various properties like thermal (rate of cure, glass transition temperatures), physical (void volumic ratio, fibre ratio, winding angles, weight, thickness) and mechanical ones are measured according to standards. Moreover, non destructive tests are performed. Ageing tests allow a comparison between the behaviour of the latter pipes.

Keywords

quality, durability, glass fiber reinforced pipes, defects, manufacturing.