BASF: new materials at "JEC Composites Show" in Paris

At the JEC, BASF will introduce for the first time a structural foam based on PET (polyethylene terephthalate). The new material with the trade name Kerdyn is a high-performance foam supplied in form of panels that is used inside rotor blades, providing additional stability. As core material, PET foams offer exceptionally good mechanical properties and have a wide range of compatibility in terms of processing. With its ability to withstand very high temperatures and its very good chemical resistance, Kerdyn is extremely well-suited for use in composites. As part of the spectrum of lightweighting materials for composites, high-quality PET foam panels are also in demand in the transportation, marine, and building/construction sectors.

As one of its most attractive exhibits at the JEC, BASF will be presenting the cross-section of a wind turbine rotor blade that was manufactured using the wide range of BASF products available for rotor blade production: The glass fibers are embedded in a Baxxodur epoxy resin system, the Kerdyn structural foam provides stability, the paint finish is based on a RELEST gelcoat system and the semi-structural Elastan polyurethane adhesive comes from the BASF product line, too.

In addition to the BASF solutions represented in the rotor demonstrator, the company is presenting additional developments for customers involved in the wind power industry:

For vacuum infusion of ever larger rotor blades, BASF has developed the Baxxodur System 5100 consisting of Baxxores ER 5100 resin and Baxxodur EC 5120 hardener. This new low- viscosity system does not only result in fast and complete impregnation of the fibers, but additionally offers a considerably longer processing time than standard systems. The company will also introduce a new epoxy resin-based structural adhesive system in Paris: the Baxxodur 4100 system consists of Baxxores ER 4100 adhesive resin and the standard Baxxodur EC 4110 hardener or alternatively Baxxodur EC 4105 for fast bonding. The system has been certified for rotor blade production by German Lloyd.

When it comes to coating rotor blades, resistance to erosion and UV radiation are essential. This protection is provided by the two RELEST Wind In-mold Gelcoats from BASF. The semi-transparent two-component paint materials are very easy to sand and easy to use thanks to a colored hardener component with mixing control function. The integrated UV absorbers in the new generation prevent damage to the substrate from UV light.

The in-mold primer RELEST Wind Gelcoat Transparent can be applied to a film thickness of up to 400 µm. RELEST Wind ProcessCoat offers all of the benefits of an in-mold gelcoat at considerably lower usage. Both products are VOC-compliant (Volatile Organic Compounds) and easy to process. RELEST Wind In-mold Gelcoats are only one part of the extensive coatings assortment available from BASF for wind turbine rotor blades.