This process is an automated process. This process is used in the fabrication of components or structures made with flexible fibers. This process is primarily used for hollow, generally circular or oval sectioned components. Fibre tows are passed through a resin bath before being wound onto a mandrel in a variety of orientations, controlled by the fibre feeding mechanism, and rate of rotation of the mandrel. The wound component is then cured in an oven or autoclave.
One can use resins like epoxy, polyester, vinylester and phenolic along with any fibre. The fibre can be directly from creel, non-woven or stitched into a fabric form.
The filament winding process is shown in Figure 1.17.
Advantages:
Resin content is controlled by nips or dies.
The process can be very fast.
The process is economic.
Complex fibre patterns can be attained for better load bearing of the structure.
Disadvantages:
Resins with low viscosity are needed.
The process is limited to convex shaped components.
Fibre cannot easily be laid exactly along the length of a component.
Mandrel costs for large components can be high.
The external surface of the component is not smoothly finished.
Figure 1.17: Filament winding
Applications:
Pressure bottles, rocket motor casing, chemical storage tanks, pipelines, gas cylinders, fire-fighters, breathing tanks etc.
