Pipe flange solutions, used for connecting and separating various points in oil and gas pipelines, are often complex when it comes to insulating them against cathodic corrosion.

The connection between steel pipes is made by two flanges and a glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) separator, connected by insulated bolts. Ground movements often cause high stresses on these flanges and leakage can occur.

To overcome this risk and to minimize the labor-intensive flange integration process, Hyconnect GmbH (Hamburg, Germany) developed a steel-GFRP pipe joint. This joining element, using the company’s FAUSST weldable hybrid fabric, makes it so the joint can be directly integrated into the GFRP pipe manufacturing process, such as by wet winding, filament winding and infusion.

The result is a fully electrically insulated product that can be welded to the surrounding steel tube, as shown by the FAUSST tube connectors below.

Hyconnect says it is currently developing the system for the chemical industry and trenchless pipe repair.