Our site uses cookies necessary for its proper functioning. To improve your experience, other cookies may be used: you can choose to disable them. This can be changed at any time via the Cookies link at the bottom of the page.


Filament Wound Pipes - Machining and Finishing

 

Testing and Processing

Plastic Pipes Conference Association # 1985 York

Morgan

During talks with personnel from Redlands Reinforced Piastics Ltd. (part of the Redland Group of Companies), the process of machining plastic reinforced pipe end-forms was discussed with a view to improving manufacturing efficiency. Traditionally Redlands manufacture 65% to 70% glass reinforced plastic pipes which are filament wound and range in diameter from 25 mm to 2.5 m. The endforms of these pipes, which enable the pipes to be correctly fitted, are generally machined by turning. Due to the extremely abrasive nature of glass fibre products, and the fact that long pipes are physically restricted to a low maximum rotational speed to avoid bending and whipping, machining end-forms by turning can be an expensive and time consuming process. As an investigatory study, it was agreed that the Grinding Research Group at Bristol University would carry out preliminar investigations into the feasibility of grinding end-forms, with the proviso that any preferred grinding process should, if be carried out "dry8'; that is without the application of any coolant.

Initial grinding experiments were undertaken using 180 mm diameter, isophthalic resin pipe sections, mounted on a specially designed rig which incorporated a continuous force measuring facility. Using this rig, a variety of both aluminium oxide and silicon carbide grinding wheels were appraised and such parameters as grinding forces, specific energy, surface finish, wheel wear and out-of-roundness were collated. Initial tests were carried out with the application of grinding fluid but, upon identifying an "optimum" wheel, "dry" grinding tests were undertaken. Following the conclusion of these initial experiments, additional "high stock removal" tests were made to identify the limiting "dry" grinding conditions. In these additional experiments, carried out on a cylindrical creep-feed grinding test rig, the conditions associated with both isophthalic and vinyl-ester type resins were investigated and the differences between these two types of pipe monitored.

Please note that the whole article content is available on PPCA website only :

Related papers

2004 Milan : Innovative PE Pipe Technologies

Author(s) : Morgan

The United Kingdom has one of the oldest and most developed gas transportation systems in the world. Today, its policy is to use polyethylene (PE) as the preferred material for the safe and efficient transportation of natural gas for operating pressures up to 7 Bar. Transco are the largest gas transporter in the UK...

2001 Munich : Developments of Flowstop Systems for Large Diameter PE Mains

Author(s) : Morgan, Hill

Transco, part of the Lattice Group, is the largest Public Gas Transporter in Great Britain. It currently operates a Distribution system of some 250,000 kilometers. Developments in polyethylene pipe technology have led to an ongoing increase in the size of pipe being laid in the U.K. Currently, pipes up to 630 mm...

1998 Gothenburg : A Flexible Solution for Renovation of Small Diameter Service Pipes

Author(s) : Morgan, Muckle, Scott

A three way partnership has resulted in the development of a new solution to the refurbishment of old iron and steel gas service pipes. The solution which has been developed allows a flexible polyethylene replacement pipe to be inserted into the old pipe system. This avoids the need for the costly excavations or...

Members of the Association

BOREALISBOROUGEFormosa Plastics CorporationHanwha TotalEnergiesINEOS O&PIRPCKorea Petrochemical IND. Co., LTD (KPIC)LyondellBasellORLEN UnipetrolPetroChina Dushanzi Petrochemical CompanyPRIME POLYMERSABICSCG Chemicals & Thai PolyethyleneSinopecTASNEE