Title: A critical review of future materials for wind turbine blades

Authors: Durai Prabhakaran Raghavalu Thirumalai

Addresses: Section of Composites and Materials Mechanics Department of Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Risø Campus, Frederiksborgvej 399, Building 228, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark

Abstract: Wind turbine industry is continuously evaluating materials systems to replace the current thermoset composite technologies. Since turbine blades are the key component in the wind turbines and the size of the blade is increasing in today's wind design, the materials selection has become crucial focusing several factors like less weight, less price, higher performance, longer life, ease of processing, and capability of recycling. In the present market scenario, wind industry needs to improve their business for onshore and for off-shore applications demonstrating the new blade designs and stating higher performance under severe environmental conditions. The current article reviews various materials alternatives and demonstrates the advantages and disadvantages for future wind turbine blade developments.

Keywords: thermoplastics; thermosets; glass fibres; natural fibres; hybrid composites; compression properties; turbine blade materials; wind turbines; turbine blades; wind energy; wind power; materials selection; turbine blade design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMATEI.2014.060339

International Journal of Materials Engineering Innovation, 2014 Vol.5 No.2, pp.81 - 99

Received: 04 May 2013
Accepted: 24 Oct 2013
Published online: 17 May 2014 *

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