Post Cure: Metal-composite connector supports direct joining to steel pipes
FAUSST weldable hybrid fabric by Hyconnect GmbH makes it possible to join metal-composite joints with reduced risk and labor.
Source (All Images) | Hyconnect GmbH
Pipe flange solutions, used for connecting and separating various points in oil and gas pipelines, are often complex when it comes to insulating them against cathodic corrosion.
The connection between steel pipes is made by two flanges and a glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) separator, connected by insulated bolts. Ground movements often cause high stresses on these flanges and leakage can occur.
To overcome this risk and to minimize the labor-intensive flange integration process, Hyconnect GmbH (Hamburg, Germany) developed a steel-GFRP pipe joint. This joining element, using the company’s FAUSST weldable hybrid fabric, makes it so the joint can be directly integrated into the GFRP pipe manufacturing process, such as by wet winding, filament winding and infusion.
The result is a fully electrically insulated product that can be welded to the surrounding steel tube, as shown by the FAUSST tube connectors below.
Hyconnect says it is currently developing the system for the chemical industry and trenchless pipe repair.
Related Content
-
Aitiip Technology Center reports dismantling of thermoplastic parts using resistance welding
Clean Sky 2 HELACS project aims to enable improved recycling of composite components at aircraft end of life.
-
Hexcel, Arkema present CFRTP aerospace demonstrator in HAICoPAS
Project optimized design and production of UD composite tapes reinforced with a PEKK matrix, using a continuous in-situ welding (ISW) assembly system.
-
Assembling the Multifunctional Fuselage Demonstrator: The final welds
Building the all-thermoplastic composite fuselage demonstrator comes to an end with continuous ultrasonic welding of the RH longitudinal fuselage joint and resistance welding for coupling of the fuselage frames across the upper and lower halves.
