Surface coating improves rotor performance
September 1, 2010 by Paul Dvorak
Filed under Materials, Turbine Blades, Wind Watch
Excerpt: Bladeskyn, a blade surfacing material for wind turbines, from Blade Dynamics in the U.K. and soon of New Orleans, is said to deliver new levels of coating protection, using fluoropolymers in an innovative film application format. The company says its advantages include 20-year performance, assured q …
American company buys stake in U.K. blade maker
September 1, 2010 by Paul Dvorak
Filed under Materials, Turbine Blades, Wind Power News
Excerpt: American Superconductor Corp. says it has acquired a 25% ownership ($8 million) in Blade Dynamics Ltd., a designer and manufacturer of advanced wind turbine blades based on proprietary materials and structural technologies. Founded in the United Kingdom in 2007, Blade Dynamics designs and develops w …
Foams from plant-based resins
September 1, 2010 by Kathleen Zipp
Filed under Materials
Excerpt: Málama Composites Corporation manufactures rigid polyurethane foams made from plant-based resins. By utilizing polyols derived from soy, castor, jatropha, or even algae, they produce core materials that are strong, light-weight, cost competitive, and far more environmentally sustainable than pe …
Composites One to distribute MIRteq materials and production methods in N.A.
August 20, 2010 by Paul Dvorak
Filed under Manufacturing, Materials, Wind Watch
Excerpt: MIRteq of Newcastle, Australia, says it has appointed Composites One as its exclusive distributor in the U.S. and British Columbia. Interest has been on MIRteq’s (Microfiber Infusion Resin) tooling resin, closed molding, and fire retardant systems because they deliver substantial commercial an …
Resilient cable for wind turbines
August 3, 2010 by Kathleen Zipp
Filed under Materials
Excerpt: Resilience Cables for wind turbines are UL and Wind Turbine Tray Cable (WTTC) approved, and NFPA 79 (12.2.2) rated for constant flex and high performance. The cables, guaranteed to perform in harsh environments, ship in five days without minimum order length or quantity. Resilience Wind Turbine Tray …
Special polymers replace polycarbonate
June 22, 2010 by Kathleen Zipp
Filed under Materials
Excerpt: Flame retardant, extrudable, and co-extrudable grades of Isoplast polymers come in various hardness levels. The polymers are a rigid plastic with chemical and impact resistance. They work well as replacements for polycarbonate, in applications that encounter stress cracking, and those that are …
Composite distributor and materials supplier form distribution agreement
June 8, 2010 by Kathleen Zipp
Filed under Materials
Excerpt: Composites One and Zyvex Performance Materials have agreed to distribute carbon nanotube epoxies, adhesives, and prepregs. Composites One distrubutes through North America from their office in Columbus, Ohio. Zyvex also works out of Columbus to produce nano-enhanced products such as Epovex and Arove …
Composites One and 3M Renewable Energy Division Form Alliance
June 3, 2010 by WindPower Engineering
Filed under Materials, Wind Turbine Design
Excerpt: Arlington Heights, IL - Composites One announced that it has formed an important alliance with the 3M’s Renewable Energy Division. This agreement will allow Composites One and 3M to continue to penetrate the emerging wind energy industry with products geared specifically toward wind turbine m …
New ventilation ideas clean the air in plants
June 2, 2010 by KRemington
Filed under Condition Monitoring, Materials, Nacelle, Wind Power News
Excerpt: The blades on wind turbines, and to some extent nacelles, are now made of composites, often fiberglass reinforced plastics (FRP) and in some cases carbon fibers. When these components come out of a mold, they require a little grinding and milling that put dust and debris into a plant’s air. Althou …
Semi-conductor fuse holders accommodate specialty fuses
May 27, 2010 by Kathleen Zipp
Filed under Electrical Systems, Materials
Excerpt: Semi-conductor fuse holders, of the FSM Series by Marathon Special Products, accommodate semi-conductor and high-speed specialty fuses in various sizes. The series is UL approved up to 1,200 A and 1,000 V, and has been redesigned to include a ½” stud design, which increases current ratings from 8 …

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