The manufacture of wind turbine blades has been based on thermoset composite technology, but thermoplastic composites could offer recyclability and other advantages. Reinforced thermoplastics can be stronger for the same weight than thermosets, so permitting lighter structures. Thermoplastic properties include high strength and stiffness to weight, good elongation and favourable fire, smoke and toxicity (F5T) characteristics. In service, they resist erosion by rain and other precipitation better than thermosets and in general, are more damage tolerant. Cracks propagate more slowly. A disadvantage of reinforced thermoplastics is their relatively poor fatigue performance caused by weaker bonding between the fibres and the plastic matrix. The normal coupling agents used to improve bonding between glass and carbon fibres and thermosets work poorly with thermoplastics. The melt impregnation methods normally associated with thermoplastics are inappropriate for producing large wind turbine blades because of the fibre penetration difficulties and the associated need for high processing temperatures and pressures. Producers would prefer to be able to use existing techniques, in particular the vacuum infusion method. Unfortunately, the high-performance thermoplastic matrices first developed for aerospace - polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyether-ketoneketone (PEKK), polyethenmide (PEI), polyethersulphone (PES) etc, along with the lower service temperature polybutylene teraphthalate (PBT), polyamide (PA) and polypropylene (PP) etc - are normally too viscous, their melt viscosities being many times higher than those of thermosets. However, some less viscous thermoplastics are available and it has been shown that certain thermoplastics can be modified chemically to reduce melt viscosity, for example by adding metallic salts. New-generation easy-flow thermoplastic resins include the cyclic form of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polymerised Lactam. Twintex roving or fabric comprises co-mingled E-glass and PE, PP, PET or PBT filaments. Consolidation is achieved by heating the roving to a temperature above the melting point of the matrix (180-230 deg C) and applying pressure, then cooling the result. Another producer, Cornfil, in Denmark, has similarly combined various reinforcements, including glass, aramid and carbon, with spun fibres of PP, PET, PPS, PEEK and PET. Thermoplastics can be melted and cooled without loss of properties, so parts can be joined by fusing their contact interfaces under heat, then cooling and consolidating under pressure to form the required bond.


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    Title :

    Could thermoplatics be the answer for utility-scale wind turbine blades?


    Additional title:

    Sind Thermoplaste eine Antwort auf die Frage nach der Gebrauchstüchtigkeit von Windturbinen-Drehflügeln


    Published in:

    Reinforced Plastics ; 54 , 1 ; 31-35


    Publication date :

    2010


    Size :

    5 Seiten, 3 Bilder



    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English






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