Winding process of fibre-reinforced thermoplastic tubes with integrated tape production through in-situ roving impregnation and infrared consolidation

Abstract

Abstract The present paper takes a novel approach to production of fibre-reinforced thermoplastic tubes. The method begins with the raw materials, reinforcing fibre and thermoplastic granulate which are processed to tapes through a newly developed direct impregnation process. It is followed by consolidation of fibre-reinforced thermoplastic tubes using infrared (IR) emitters in the filament winding process. This process employs various angles and utilizes a rotatable consolidation axis. The winding process operates at a constant speed, addressing the challenge of bending the fibre-reinforced tapes in the angle reversal areas near the tube ends. Experiments have confirmed that the process can run at speeds reaching approximately 470 mm/min. The design of the impregnation line takes into account the properties of the thermoplastic and the roving, allowing for a speed of up to 1 m/s.