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company manufactures a spinner nose cone, which fts over the global communications at LM, says the barrier technology will be windward side of the rotor hub, from E-glass fabric and polyester for available, initially, only on blades produced by LM Wind Power. a major wind turbine manufacturer. Carl LaFrance, MFG's VP of reAnother option, Arkema Inc.'s (King of Prussia, Pa.) KYNAR newable energy products, cites the need to reduce wind energy's cost PVDF-acrylic hybrid emulsion coating, has been used for more per kW-hr and to make investments in material and process R&D.; than 30 years as an architectural weather coating on exposed metal "We don't have a full understanding of how blade design, materi- in large commercial buildings and public structures. Te original als and manufacturing processes afect system costs," says LaFrance, solvent-borne emulsion requires baking at temperatures up to "so we don't have any idea about how much cost we could potential- 200°C/392°F to cure. However, the company introduced a waterly take out." He believes that will require more upfront collaboration based version of KYNAR, in both thermoplastic and thermoset forbetween custom molders and turbine manufacturers, but adds, "it's mulations, which is curable at room temperature and can be applied a conversation not all customers are willing to have because of the to a variety of composites. competitive nature of this business." LaFrance specifcally earmarks the need for tougher matrices, and he notes that early testing and prototype work with polyurethanes appears promising. "Polyurethanes have much better fatigue properties than either polyester or epoxy," he A N NIVE RS contends. LaFrance also reports that some materials suppliers are researching methHPC Visit TFP at SAMPE Tech 2013 ods to make vinyl ester a tougher material. Charter AR 2 0 Y Advertiser and dE-icing capability As blades get longer and blade tips reach greater speeds, resistance to wind-driven rain, ice, sand and salt is a key performance criterion, especially along the blade's leading edge. When wind-driven particulate strikes a blade spinning as fast as 60 m/sec, there is the potential for damaging shear forces in the frst laminate layer of the edge. Leadingedge erosion reduces power output, which results in signifcant revenue loss for wind farm operators. To counteract erosion, LM Wind Power recently introduced a new protective coating technology, LM ProBlade Collision Barrier. Te company claims the coating can improve erosion resistance along the leading edge by up to 20 times, compared to standard barrier coatings already in use. Te coating system comprises a primer and an aliphatic-based, solvent-free, twocomponent, highly elastic polyurethane topcoat. LM says results of independent testing on prototype blades shows the coating lasts about twice as long as leading-edge thermoplastic polyurethane tape. Tape produces aerodynamic drag, and LM estimates that eliminating it can enhance the average annual energy production of a turbine by 2 percent. Te company began serial production of the coating in the second quarter of 2013. Lene Ri Ran Kristiansen, manager of Surface Engineering for Composites High performance nonwovens which provide effective lightweight solutions for: • • • • • • High Quality Surface Finish EMI Shielding Electrical Conductivity Enhanced Corrosion Resistance Static Dissipation Abrasion Resistance Find out more... Technical Fibre Products Inc E: inquiries@tfp-americas.com • T: 1 518 280 8517 www.tfp-americas.com TFP is part of James Cropper PLC A Specialist Paper & Advanced Materials Group CT oCTober 2013 Erosion control Wichita KA • Booth I21 • 21-24 October 33