filamentwindning

Filamentwindning, or filament winding, is a manufacturing method for creating hollow composite components by winding continuous reinforcing fibers around a mandrel in controlled trajectories while applying resin. The technique is especially suited to long, axisymmetric parts such as pressure vessels, tanks, and pipes, where high strength in the axial and hoop directions is required.

In the process, a winding head deposits reinforced fiber onto a rotating mandrel. The fiber is guided to follow predetermined angles relative to the axis of the mandrel, enabling hoop, axial, or mixed winding patterns. The resin is introduced by impregnating the fiber before winding (prepregs) or by wet winding followed by resin infusion or curing. After the layup is complete, the resin is cured by heat or ambient conditions, and the mandrel is removed to yield a hollow shell.

Materials commonly used include fibers such as glass, carbon, or aramid, and resins such as epoxy, polyester, or vinyl ester. Winding patterns are chosen to tailor mechanical properties; hoop winding provides circumferential strength, axial winding contributes along the length, and mixed angles allow a balance of properties for the finished part.

Applications of filament winding span aerospace, automotive, energy, and marine sectors. Typical products include pressure vessels (for compressed gases), storage tanks, composite pipes, fuel or water tanks, antenna radomes, and rocket cases. Advantages of the process include a high strength-to-weight ratio, good corrosion resistance, and efficient material usage for large, hollow parts. Limitations include restrictions to relatively simple, axisymmetric geometries, tooling and mandrel handling complexity, higher material costs for advanced fibers, and the need for careful post-processing and mandrel release.