Method of producing a filament wound curved product and product obtained thereby

Abstract

The invention relates to a curved product, and in particular an armor product. The armor product is produced by a filament winding process in which a plurality of reinforcing elements in the form of fibers and/or tapes are impregnated with a polymer matrix and wound onto a mandrel. The polymer matrix comprises a solution and/or dispersion of a polymer in a carrier fluid, which carrier fluid is at least partly evaporated during and/or after winding. The armor product comprises a high amount of reinforcing elements with respect to the total mass of the product.

1 . A filament winding process for producing a curved product, preferably an armor product, in which a plurality of reinforcing elements, having a strength of at least 1.6 GPa, is impregnated with a polymer matrix and wound onto a mandrel, whereby the polymer matrix comprises a solution and/or dispersion of a polymer in a carrier fluid, which carrier fluid is at least partly evaporated during and/or after winding, and wherein the amount of reinforcing elements is at least 60% of the total mass of the product. 
   
   
       2 . A curved product, obtainable with the process according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       3 . A product according to  claim 2 , wherein the amount of reinforcing elements is at least 75% of the total mass of the product. 
   
   
       4 . A product according to  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcing elements comprise fibers and/or drawn polymer films and/or tapes. 
   
   
       5 . A product according to  claim 2 , wherein the modulus of at least a part of the polymer matrix is below 100 MPa. 
   
   
       6 . A product according to  claim 2 , wherein the modulus of at least a part of the polymer matrix is above 500 MPa. 
   
   
       7 . A product according to  claim 2 , wherein the wall thickness is above 9 mm. 
   
   
       8 . A product according to  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcing element is a polyethylene fiber or tape. 
   
   
       9 . A product according to  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcing element is an aramid fiber, a poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) fiber, a poly(2,6-diimidazo-(4,5b-4′,5′e)pyridinylene-1,4(2,5-dihydroxy)phenylene) fiber, a carbon fiber, or a glass fiber. 
   
   
       10 . A product according to  claim 2 , which product is post processed after filament winding by compression moulding at elevated pressure and temperature. 
   
   
       11 . A product according to  claim 10 , the product being selected from a helmet, a combat helmet, and a radome. 
   
   
       12 . A product according to  claim 2 , having a pattern of reinforcing elements which is at least partly non-geodetic.