Manufacture of Natural Fiber-reinforced Polymer Pipes

Utilizing locally available materials and labor in the construction and preservation of water infrastructure is considered an effective strategy toward progressing regional economic development and providing security of water supply in some less industrialized and remote regions. Current pipe manufacturing processes are highly advanced, with the implementation of these manufacturing technologies in remote and less-industrialized areas being difficult to achieve. Flax fiber-reinforced epoxy (FFRE) composite has substantial potential to be used for constructing or reinforcing various structural components, mainly due to a superior combination of stiffness, strength, low cost, and low weight of flax fiber when compared to other natural fibers. Two techniques were proposed to manufacture pipes using FFRE composite, namely, the manual fabric winding technique and the vacuum infusion method. The proposed manufacturing techniques, especially the manual fabric winding method, were shown to be simple to implement, and the processes can be replicated without the necessity for advanced manufacturing technologies.