Manufacturing and characterization of cylindrical thermoplastic composites by the method of filament winding

Filament winding method is one of the preferred method in manufacturing polymer matrix composite. It is especially used in production of tube or pipe shaped parts like cylindrical pressured vessels, underground storage and distribution systems.Thermoset matrix is preferred, in this method due to obtaining a good interface bonding between fiber and matrix. However, in recent years usage of thermoplastic composites have increased because of their superiorities over thermosets like higher fracture toughness, flexibility, shorter and easier processing cycles. On the other hand, the high melt viscosity of the thermoplastics leads inadequate wetting of fiber bundles by matrix and poor fiber-matrix interface bonding. In order to solve this problem, hybrid yarns, which consist of a mixture of reinforcement fiber and thermoplastic fiber, have improved. However, usage of these materials have not become widespread yet and have not used widely in filament winding method. In this study, Polyethylene/E-glass fiber and Polypropylene/E-glass fiber hybrid yarns were used. Firstly, plate samples were produced at various temperatures, times and laminates. Tensile, bending, impact, calcination tests and SEM observations were applied to these samples and the production parameters were optimized. In the second step, cylindrical shaped pieces were produced and ring stiffness test was performed to this pieces. According to the test results of plate samples, the optimum production conditions were determined as 200°C temperature and 5 minutes producing time for polyethylene/E-glass fiber material and 220°C temperature and 5 minutes producing time for polypropylene/E-glass fiber material. Cylindrical samples, which were produced as stated conditions, meet the requirements of the standards EN 12666-1, EN 1852-1, EN 13476-2 and EN 13476-3.