Insight into the Experimental Exploration of GFRP Composite Pipes with and without Zinc Borate

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of 5%, 10%, and 15% zinc borate filler materials in glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) pipe. The filament-wound composite pipes were fabricated and subjected to compression tests of both the axial and radial setups. Axial and radial compression tests were conducted to evaluate the pipe load-bearing capacity, stiffness, and buckling behavior under different loading orientations. Low-velocity impact tests are performed to evaluate the pipes’ resistance to impact loading and their ability to withstand energy absorption without catastrophic failure. The internal pressure and burst leakage failure of the glass fiber-reinforced pipes enabled with zinc borate were tested using hydrostatic testing. Fractography analysis was performed using scanning electron microscopy to examine the delamination, fiber breakage, damage debonding, and cracks. The influence of 10% by weight zinc borate exhibited higher compression strength (106.53 MPa), crush force efficiency (0.76), specific energy absorption (5.31), and resistance to deformation on impact compared to the unfilled glass fiber-reinforced pipe. The experimental exploration of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite pipes with and without zinc borate offers numerous practical applications across various industries. Sectors requiring high compression resistance, lightweight structures, and drop-weight impact resistance widely use GFRP pipes. (1) Chemical processing plants: GFRP pipes with zinc borate provide enhanced resistance to chemical corrosion and fire hazards, making them ideal for transporting aggressive chemicals in harsh environments. (2) Oil and gas industry: the improved bursting pressure resistance of zinc borate-treated GFRP pipes ensures safety in offshore platforms and refineries, where bursting risks are very high. (3) Marine applications: these pipes are suitable for desalination plants, marine outfalls, and underwater pipelines, offering excellent resistance to drop-weight impact resistance. (4) Construction and infrastructure: zinc borate-treated GFRP pipes can be used in plumbing systems, ventilation ducts, and structural reinforcements in buildings where axial and radial compression resistance is highly required. This study’s findings promote the development of safer, more efficient composite materials tailored to industry-specific challenges, contributing to sustainable engineering solutions.