BASF has launched a coatings solution for rotor blades, RELEST Wind LEP S, that recently passed an external 50-hour rain erosion test by a renowned institute from Denmark and, in the end, outperformed other well-known rain erosion resistant coatings.
According to BASF, a highly protective coating is necessary, considering that at top speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour at the blade tips, gigantic forces act upon the blades. Moreover, weather influences, such as rain, snow, hail, sand, heat and UV radiation, wear out the blades and lead to more frequent repair and maintenance intervals, BASF asserts.
The recent test showed that with a speed of up to 160 m/s (approximately 570 km/h), rain did not cause any significant damage on the coating.
The company says that the system – consisting of a gel coat, a filler, an edge protection and a topcoat – is based entirely on solvent-free, two-component polyurethane compounds, thus complying with present VOC directives.
BASF supplies the matching coating system for all components under the trade name RELEST, from the base of the wind power plant to the rotor blade edge.
