Prepreg Blade Adhesive

> Excellent gap filling properties – ideal for variable bondline thicknesses > High strength and toughness industrial adhesive – even when mixed up to 5 parts off-ratio > Variable clamp times – three hardener speeds to give a range of working times > Low exotherm and shrinkage – minimising risk of cracking > High temperature resitance – high performance up to 80°C

           

STRUCTURAL ADHESIVE FOR PREPREG BLADES
Lifetime mechanical performance of an advanced composite turbine blade is of fundamental importance for these large, dynamic and active structures. Performance of the structure through cyclic loading and often severe operational climates puts high demands on all materials in their design. Perhaps the most significant demand performance is reserved for the adhesive bonds which hold the major components together.

To achieve the best properties in pure adhesive bonds, there are trade offs in matching the ultimate cohesive and adhesive strength, its ability to hold two substrates together with its ability to absorb shock or deformation before failure.

Some of these trade offs are due to fundamentals of polymer chemistry that can only be overcome at extremely high formulation cost or with complex application processes. The challenge is to find a solution that is compatible with wind turbine blade economics.

The choice of adhesive is often firstly made on these mechanical properties. However, for structures of the size being considered in wind turbine blade, manufacturing issues are always key considerations.

• Spabond 340 - Epoxy Adhesive System (v8)
  Spabond 340 is a toughened, thixotropic adhesive system with a simple 2:1 by weight and by volume mix ratio. It is designed for use with a mixing machine and has a sag resistance of 30mm on a vertical surface.
• Spabond 340LV - Epoxy Adhesive System (v13)
  Spabond 340LV is a high performance adhesive designed for bonding large structures such as yacht hulls and wind turbine blades. It is a cost-effective system with good thermal and mechanical properties.
• Spabond 340LV HT (v1)
  Spabond 340LV is a high performance adhesive for bonding large wind turbine blades. It is a cost-effective system with 10% lower density than competitive glass filled adhesives and high fatigue/crack resistance.