Products for wind generator blades
Over the last decades the use of wind energy expanded very fast. Also the next
decade will show a steady growth promoted by increasing prices for energy,
several environmental reasons and improved efficiency of wind generators.
In the past wind generator blades were mainly produced by using styrene
containing unsaturated polyesters in open mould techniques. That did not fit
very well with the green image of wind energy. Consequently epoxy resins were
introduced as a “green” alternative offering also somewhat better mechanical
properties. Over time the wind generator blades became larger in size to
transfer more energy from the wind. As the ever growing wings became too
heavy, the majority of the industry changed from open mould to infusion as a
closed mould technology. This infusion technology enabled the blade producers
to obtain much higher fiber content and thus more stiffness and higher
strength with a better size to weight ratio. This opened the way to use
styrene containing resins again without loosing the green image.
