Erosion and Humidity Protection Coatings for Wind Turbine Blades

In wind turbine generators, winds carrying large amounts of sand can cause the leading edge of a rotor blade to erode, thinning the trailing edge and increasing the roughness of the rotor blade surface. These effects denigrate performance and reduce machine power output, efficiency, and availability. This project will develop a cost-effective, erosion- and humidity-resistant coating system for wind turbine generator blades. Phase I will develop a nano-structured multilayer coating comprising a metallic bond coat capped with a polymeric topcoat. The metallic bond coat will provide the required erosion protection, and the polymeric top layer will act as humidity and erosion barrier. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The erosion- and humidity-resistant coatings should enhance the performance and efficiency of wind turbine systems. The novel, multilayer coating system would be useful not only for the wind turbine industry but also for many other applications, such as aerospace, automotive, and electronics.