Abstract
The development of two novel elastomeric erosion resistant coatings for the protection of wind turbine blades is presented. The coatings are prepared by modifying polyurethane (PU) with (i) hydroxyl functionalised graphene nanoparticles (f-GNP) and (ii) f-GNP and a hydrophobic silica-based sol–gel (SG). Tensile, monotonic and cyclic compression and tearing tests have been conducted on the neat PU and the two newly developed elastomeric PU nanocomposites (PU + GNP and PU + GNP + SG) to allow their properties to be compared. The test results showed that the mechanical properties of PU and the modified PUs have strong dependency on temperature, strain rate and nanoparticles loading and addition of GNP and SG to PU improved the mechanical properties. Compared to PU, Young’s modulus and modulus of toughness of PU + GNP + SG increased 95% and 124%, respectively. The PU + GNP nanocomposite displayed the highest tearing strength and the PU + GNP + SG nanocomposite showed the highest elongation at break. An investigation of the microstructures of the modified PUs by FTIR, field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) are discussed. Hydrophobicity of the PU and developed PU nanocomposites are reported by measuring their water droplet contact angles and their free surface energies.
Highlights
Leading edge erosion (LEE) of wind turbine blades caused by the impact of rain, dust, salty vapour, hailstones, and insects, reduces the lifetime of the blades
77.4 MPa and for PU + graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) + SG, it is 71.5 MPa; PU + GNP + SG experiences the least stresses during cyclic compressive loading
The mechanical properties of PU have been improved by incorporating functionalised graphene nanoplatelets (f-GNP) and silica-based sol–gel in PU matrices
Summary
Leading edge erosion (LEE) of wind turbine blades caused by the impact of rain, dust, salty vapour, hailstones, and insects, reduces the lifetime of the blades. This in turn results in a loss in annual energy production (AEP) by the turbines. Potential AEP losses of between 4.5 and 25% have been reported by Sareen,[1] and losses from 2% to 3.7%, depending on the extent of damage at the leading edge, have been reported by Han et al.[2] Sandia National Laboratories[3] estimated the AEP losses as 5– 8%. There are major incentives for protecting the leading edge of wind turbine blades
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