Continuous glass fiber tape reinforced polyethylene (PE) composite pipe

Continuous glass fiber tape reinforced polyethylene (PE) composite pipe is a high-performance composite pipe formed by combining the corrosion resistance and flexibility of polyethylene with the high strength of continuous glass fiber tape. Below is a detailed introduction:

Definition and Composition

The composite pipe primarily consists of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and continuous glass fiber tape. It adopts a layer-by-layer winding process to form a multi-layer structure. Typically, it includes an inner layer of high-density polyethylene as a liner, a middle layer of continuous glass fiber tape as the reinforcement layer, and an outer layer of high-density polyethylene as the protective layer. In some designs, to ensure the ring stiffness of buried pipes, a stiffening layer is welded outside the outer protective layer to form a stiffening rib with a polyethylene protective layer, creating a four-layer structure.

Manufacturing Process

The production process generally involves the following steps: raw material dry feeding → inner tube extrusion → sizing sleeve → vacuum setting spray → first traction → infrared heating → multi-stage winding unit → extruder coating → spray cooling water tank → laser printer → crawler tractor → planetary cutter → pipe stacker (winding). During manufacturing, the continuous glass fiber tape is wound around the PE liner under specific temperature and pressure conditions to ensure tight bonding between the glass fiber and PE. The glass fiber tape is usually wound in multiple layers, with the number of layers and thickness adjusted based on the required strength and pressure resistance of the pipe.

Performance Characteristics

High Strength and Pressure Resistance: The continuous glass fiber tape reinforcement layer significantly enhances the pipe's strength and pressure resistance. It can withstand higher internal and external pressures compared to conventional PE pipes, making it suitable for high-pressure fluid transportation applications. For instance, common pipe diameters range from 1.5 to 20 inches. For pipes with diameters of 1.5–6 inches, the pressure rating can reach 3.5–30 MPa, while for 8–20-inch diameters, it ranges from 2.5–5.5 MPa.

Excellent Corrosion Resistance: PE material itself has strong corrosion resistance, and the glass fiber reinforcement layer does not affect this property. The composite pipe remains unaffected by soil, moisture, acids, alkalis, and other corrosive substances, effectively preventing issues like scaling, pitting, and rusting. This ensures long-term stable operation of the pipe in harsh environments.

Good Flexibility and Impact Resistance: While the glass fiber reinforcement layer enhances strength, the composite pipe retains the inherent flexibility of PE. It can adapt to ground movements and vibrations, resisting deformation caused by external forces. It also exhibits excellent impact resistance, avoiding damage from external impacts during installation and use.

High Temperature Resistance and Creep Resistance: The glass fiber reinforcement layer improves the pipe's temperature resistance and creep resistance. The composite pipe can maintain stable performance over long periods under high temperatures and sustained loads, reducing deformation and extending service life.

Smooth Inner Surface and Low Friction Factor: The inner layer of the composite pipe is made of PE material, which has a smooth surface and low friction factor. This minimizes fluid flow resistance, improves transportation efficiency, and reduces energy consumption.

Lightweight: The composite pipe combines the lightweight nature of PE with the relatively low density of glass fiber, resulting in a significantly lighter weight compared to traditional steel pipes. This facilitates transportation and installation, reduces labor intensity, and lowers construction costs.

Application Fields

Urban Water Supply Systems: Its excellent corrosion resistance and high-pressure capabilities make it suitable for urban water supply pipelines, ensuring the safe and stable transportation of drinking water.

Building Plumbing Systems: It can be used for building water supply pipes, fire water supply pipes, etc., meeting the requirements for water pressure and corrosion resistance in buildings.

Industrial Fluid Transportation: It is ideal for transporting various industrial fluids, including corrosive gases, slurries, and solid powders. Its corrosion resistance and strength allow it to withstand the erosive effects of industrial fluids and the pressures of the transportation process.

Sewage Treatment and Drainage Systems: In sewage treatment plants and urban drainage systems, the composite pipe can handle sewage and wastewater transportation. Its corrosion resistance prevents damage from corrosive substances in sewage, while its high strength ensures stable performance under complex underground conditions.

Oil and Gas Transportation: In the oil and gas industry, it can be used for oil and gas pipelines. Its excellent performance meets the stringent requirements for oil and gas transportation in terms of pressure resistance, sealing, and corrosion resistance.

Marine Engineering: Its strong corrosion resistance enables it to withstand the harsh marine environment, making it suitable for seawater transportation pipes, submarine cables, and other marine engineering applications.

Advantages Over Traditional Pipes

Performance Advantages: Compared to traditional steel pipes, the composite pipe offers superior corrosion resistance and flexibility, avoiding issues like rusting and scaling common in steel pipes. It also eliminates the need for frequent maintenance and repairs. Relative to ordinary PE pipes, its strength and pressure resistance are significantly enhanced, expanding its application scope to high-pressure fields.

Cost Advantages: While the initial investment in the composite pipe may be slightly higher than traditional pipes, its long service life, low maintenance costs, and high reliability result in lower overall lifecycle costs. Additionally, its lightweight nature reduces transportation and installation costs.

Environmental Advantages: The composite pipe is made from PE and glass fiber materials, which are recyclable and environmentally friendly. It does not produce harmful substances during use, aligning with environmental protection requirements.

Safety and Environmental Considerations

Safety Performance: The composite pipe has good impact resistance and fracture toughness, reducing the risk of pipe rupture and fluid leakage accidents. Its excellent corrosion resistance ensures stable performance over long-term use, minimizing safety hazards caused by pipe corrosion.

Environmental Impact: During production, attention should be paid to the treatment of waste gas and wastewater to prevent environmental pollution. At the end of its service life, the composite pipe can be recycled and reused, reducing resource waste and environmental burden. However, improper disposal may pose certain risks to the environment, so recycling is encouraged.

Development Trends

With continuous advancements in material science and manufacturing technology, continuous glass fiber tape reinforced PE composite pipes are evolving toward higher performance and broader applications. Research is ongoing to develop new materials and processes to further enhance the pipe's strength, toughness, and temperature resistance while reducing costs. Additionally, as environmental protection demands grow, the development of green and sustainable composite pipes will become a key focus. These efforts aim to meet the needs of various industries and contribute to the sustainable development of the piping sector.