Polymer based composite and hybrid materials for wind power generation

Abstract

In recent years considerable attention has been dedicated to renewal power sources, such as wind power. This work was carried out in order to develop a small wind turbine of 1-10kW power generation capability. This wind turbine is designed to be energetically more efficient by 30-50% and having a lesser specific cost (by 25-30%). This work focused on the development of composite materials for application on the blades in the wind generator. In this paper we present the results of the research work done on the development of flexible technology for the fabrication matrix-epoxy resin based hybrid composites, reinforced with carbon, basalt and glass fibers. These new composite and hybrid materials were fabricated using epoxy matrixes. These matrices were reinforced with basalt and carbon fibers of different content and strengthened by mullite-like crystals. The basalt fibers for composite reinforcing were prepared from raw materials, with chemical composition: SiO2-15.3%; CaO-10.8%; Na2O-4.2%; MgO-8.8%; Fe2O3-12.1%; MnO-0.7%; TiO2-0.7%. The properties of new composites developed depend on the content and architecture of reinforcing components and are: tensile strength-(0.012-1.590)GPa; compression strength-(0.078-0.656)GPa; modulus of elasticity-(8.4-162.9)GPa; Poisson ratio-(0.015-0.559). The variation of strength and elastic characteristics under tension and compression of the new composites are presented. © (2010) Trans Tech Publications.