Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanical and thermal properties of composite
pipes based on epoxy resin and glass fibers produced by filament winding (FW) technology. Epoxy
resins are widely used polymers in FW composite structures. The thermal characterization of the
neat epoxy resin, curing, and post-curing characteristics for the determination of polymerization and
glass transition temperature was performed, which is important for the mechanical properties of
polymer composite pipes. In the present work, the applicability of the full factorial experimental
design in predicting the hoop tensile and compressive strengths of glass fiber/epoxy resin composite
pipes was investigated. The composite pipes in accordance with the 23 full factorial experimental
design by using of three parameters and two levels of variation were prepared. The winding speed
of the composites was taken to be the first factor, the second was the fiber tension, and the third was
winding angle. To approximate the response, i.e., the mechanical properties of the composite pipes
within the study domain, the first-order linear model with the interaction was used. The influence
of each individual factor to the response function was established, as well as the influence of the
interaction of the two and three factors. Additionally, those results were completed with the thermal
characterization of the polymer composite pipes. From received results from mechanical and thermal
characterization, it was concluded that the properties of composite specimens were highly affected by
the analyzed parameters in filament winding technology. It was found that the estimated first-degree
regression equation with the interaction gave a very good approximation of the experimental results
of the hoop tensile and the compressive strengths of composite pipes within the study domain.
Keywords: polymer composite; filament winding; experimental design; thermal analysis; mechani-
cal propertie
