A method and apparatus for providing
metal or non-
metal vessels, including straight and curved pipes and various
pipe connections, such as T's, elbows, swages, etc., and pressure containing vessels such as tanks, with an external composite lining of a
webbing of biaxial or triaxial weave preferably composed of fiberglass which is pre-impregnated with a high temperature heat curable
polymer composition capable of being heat cured at a temperature range of from about 275° F. to about 375° F. The vessel is prepared for bonding by
abrasive cleaning and by
solvent cleaning.
Metal imperfections are then filled with an
epoxy. A small amount a quick setting
epoxy is employed to attach one end of the web to the external surface of the vessel in oriented position for wrapping of the web in intimate surface-to-surface contact with the vessel. During wrapping only enough tension is applied to the pre-impregnated
webbing to eliminate any wrinkles. The number of
layers of the impregnated
webbing will be determined by the safe pressure containing capability of the
pipe or vessel and its composite lining. An external
heating element is then placed about the wrapping of pre-impregnated webbing material so as to be in substantially intimate relation therewith and is energized to apply sufficient heat for a sufficient period of time to completely cure the
epoxy surface filler and to cure the
polymer resin components of the pre-impregnated woven wrappings of webbing.