Webcore Tech awarded $1.8 million for advanced blade material

WebCore Technologies LLC has been awarded $1,800,000 as part of the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Small Business Phase III Xlerator program. WebCore was selected for a next phase development and commercialization of Tycor W, an engineered composite core material. The company material says it is gaining acceptance in utility wind-turbine blades due to its ability to significantly improve performance and quality while reducing cost and weight, critical components to making wind power more cost competitive with other power generation sources.

Tycor W combines fiber reinforcements, such as E-glass roving or mat, with closed-cell, low-density foam in an engineered architecture. The patented core material has been in use for over two years in utility-class wind turbine blades and is undergoing qualification for use with additional 1.5 to 3.0 MW turbines that have blade 40 to 60-m long. The one-inch thick Tycor W saves an average of 0.5 lb/ft² and reduces resin use by 0.2 lb/ft² when compared to one-inch thick balsa wood. The company’s production process optimizes the material sheet sizes, improving kitting yield by as much as 10%.

Phase III Xlerator awards, a first for DOE, were created to help small businesses develop manufacturing processes to scale up production of new, proven technologies, creating new markets and jobs. WebCore will use the funding to expand production capacity at its Miamisburg, Ohio manufacturing facility and support ongoing development of enhancements to its Tycor technology platform.

WebCore

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