METHOD OF PRODUCING HOLLOW ARTICLES FROM POLYMER COMPOSITES Russian patent published in 2013 - IPC B29C55/30 

FIELD: process engineering.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to production of tubular articles from polymer composites by drawing and coiling and can be used in machine building, aircraft engineering, ship building, oil and construction industries. Proposed method comprises the steps that follow. Reinforcing fibers are unwound from bobbin 1 and fed through impregnation bath 2 filled with the mix of epoxy resin ED-20 with amine hardener. Glass, carbon and organic fibers are said reinforcing fibers. Impregnation is carried out at 30-40°C. Then, fibers impregnated with said polymer composition are passed through performing device 3 and article shaping die 4. Shaping die is heated to 230°C. Drawing rate makes 0.05-0.1 m/min. Tube are made by shaping die with cylindrical mandrel arranged there inside. Blank is pulled from die 4 by pulling device 5 and fed to device 6 for application of metalised layer. Device 6 is composed of metal case, 0.2-0.3 of its volume being filled with fine copper or aluminium powder. Axial-blow fan 7 is arranged at top part of device 6 to swirl powder flow and to maintain its in suspended state. Airflow 0.5-1.0 m/s. Turbulent metal powder settles on billet surface and retained by electrostatic forces. Thermal layer depth correlates with metal powder fraction size, i.e. 0.1-0.45 mm. Then, processed billet is fed to reeler 8 with bobbin swivel 9 to coil prepreg tape. Swivel revolves at 0.1-30 rpm axial displacement, corresponding to drawing rate. After winding, the article is fed to thermal chamber 12 for hardening. Now, it is fed to cutter 14 to cut tubes of preset lengths.

EFFECT: continuous production of tubes.

2 cl, 2 dwg