Solid particle erosive wear study of polymer composite materials for wind turbine applications

In this study, erosion wear tests in composites materials (carbon fiber and fiberglass) were performed in order to understand their behavior for blades of wind turbine applications. The erosion tests were also made in coated composites materials with a polyester resin (gel coat), to compare the wear erosion resistance with uncoated materials. The experimental tests were carried out according to some parameters to the ASTM G76 standard. The specimens had a rectangular shape with dimensions of 25 × 18 mm and a thickness of 4 mm. The erosive particle used was obtained from sea sand. High impact angles were used, 75°, 85°, and 90° and the velocity particle was 12 m/s. The duration of each test was 6 min, removing the specimens every 2 min to measure the amount of mass loss. In order to identify the wear mechanisms, scanning electron microscopy was used. The results showed that fiberglass specimens had a higher mass loss at 90° impact angle. The best erosive wear performance was obtained in the uncoated carbon fiber specimens at 85° impact angle.