Nanoengineered Graphene-Reinforced Coating for Leading Edge Protection of Wind Turbine Blades
Nicolai Frost‐Jensen Johansen, Leon Mishnaevsky, Arash Dashtkar, Neil Williams, Søren Fæster, Alessio Silvello, I.G. Cano, H. Hadavinia
Abstract
Possibilities of the development of new anti-erosion coatings for wind turbine blade surface protection on the basis of nanoengineered polymers are explored. Coatings with graphene and hybrid nanoreinforcements are tested for their anti-erosion performance, using the single point impact fatigue testing (SPIFT) methodology. It is demonstrated that graphene and hybrid (graphene/silica) reinforced polymer coatings can provide better erosion protection with lifetimes up to 13 times longer than non-reinforced polyurethanes. Thermal effects and energy dissipation during the repeated soft impacts on the blade surface are discussed.