METHODS OF PRODUCING FLEXIBLE PIPE BODIES, AND FLEXIBLE PIPE BODIES
A flexible pipe body and method of producing a flexible pipe body are disclosed. The method includes providing a length of composite material of thermoplastic or thermosetting material with an electrically conductive material dispersed therein, applying the length to a mandrel or a layer of flexible pipe body, and heating the length by induction heating using an induction heating coil to cure the thermoplastic or thermosetting material.
1 . A method of producing a flexible pipe body, comprising:
providing a length of composite material of thermoplastic or thermosetting material with an electrically conductive material dispersed therein;
applying the length to a mandrel or a layer of flexible pipe body; and
heating the length by induction heating to cure the thermoplastic or thermosetting material.
2 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the heating step is performed prior to the applying step.
3 . A method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising providing a plurality of lengths of composite material of thermoplastic or thermosetting material with an electrically conductive material dispersed therein, and stacking the plurality of lengths to form the said length, prior to the applying and heating steps.
4 . A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the applying step is performed prior to the heating step.
5 . A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the length is applied to a metal layer of flexible pipe body.
6 . A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the applying step comprises helically wrapping the length onto a mandrel or a layer of flexible pipe.
7 . A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the composite material comprises a matrix material and a plurality of electrically conductive fibres.
8 . A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the plurality of electrically conductive fibres comprise carbon fibres.
9 . A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the carbon fibres comprise carbon nanotubes.
10 . A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the composite material comprises PVDF.
11 . A flexible pipe body, comprising:
a layer of composite material of thermoplastic or thermosetting material with an electrically conductive material dispersed therein,
wherein the layer is formed by applying the composite material to a mandrel or a further layer of flexible pipe body and heating the composite material by induction heating to cure the thermoplastic or thermosetting material.
12 . A flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the composite material comprises a matrix material and a plurality of electrically conductive fibres.
13 . A flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 11 wherein the plurality of electrically conductive fibres comprise carbon fibres.
14 . A flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 13 wherein the carbon fibres comprise carbon nanotubes.
15 . A flexible pipe body as claimed in claim 11 wherein the composite material comprises PVDF.
16 . (canceled)
17 . (canceled)