ABSTRACTudGlass fiber reinforced polypropylene pipes were fabricated from 6-10 layers ofud“Plytron” GN638T 25mm wide glass fiber pre-impregnated polypropylene tapesudusing filament winding/tape laying process, in-situ consolidation on a 1000mm longudmandrel. Infrared heater and heat gun were used in heating the incoming tapes and theudsubstrate at the nip point. The effects of process pressure and temperature on theudmechanical properties were investigated by testing samples of test laminates andudfabricated pipes for their mechanical properties. Results indicated that the mechanicaludproperties of the test samples and pipes were affected by changes in processudtemperature and pressure, with an optimum process pressure and temperature beingud16.8KPa and 2800C respectively. The cost analysis of the fabricated pipes indicatedudthat the materials and method of production employed in this research could beudutilized to an economic advantage when compared with the prices of the same type ofudpipes in SA market.
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