North American Windpower: 3M Releases Protective Wind Tapes

3M Releases Protective Wind Tapes

in News Departments > Products & Technologies

by NAW Staff on Tuesday 05 June 2007

St. Paul, Minn.-based 3M has made its new Wind Tapes 8608 and 8609 available to the wind energy market. According to the company, its wind tapes provide protection from damage caused by sand, rain, moisture ingression, insects, airborne particles and ultraviolet rays. They are formulated to reduce maintenance and replacement costs associated with turbine blades, 3M says.

"Greater longevity of the blade translates into money and time saved in maintenance," comments Gene Bergh, 3M's senior technical service specialist. "Our wind tapes can also help improve efficiency by ensuring the airflow over the blade is smooth."

The 3M tape is typically applied to the outer two-thirds of the blade, where the speed is the fastest and protection most critical, the company adds. Providing energy absorption, the tapes impact force of particles over a wider area of the blade, thus protecting its structural and aesthetic integrity.

For more information, visit www.3m.com

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