Pursuing its strategy to lead the innovation of glass fibre solutions for the wind energy sector, 3B-the fibreglass company is launching HiPer-tex™ W2020 high performance roving to satisfy OEM needs for longer and lighter rotor blades to meet the challenging offshore and bigger onshore multi-megawatt wind turbines. Building upon the recently developed sizing technology applied to Advantex® SE2020, the new HiPer-tex W2020 is also specifically engineered for epoxy polymer systems used in resin infusion or prepreg processes.
3B’s technological expertise and manufacturing know-how delivers a high modulus glass with outstanding mechanical properties providing significantly greater strength and strain-to-failure than traditional E-glass. The new HiPer-tex W2020 roving offers the following exceptional properties in a typical unidirectional laminate (average glass volume fraction 60 percent): 54-56 GPa E-modulus; 55-60 MPa transverse tensile strength ; and 10 times longer lifetime in fatigue resistance versus traditional E-glass.
“HiPer-tex W2020 provides the answer to the evolving market requirements for stiffer and better performing materials. Its optimized glass composition, combined with proprietary sizing technology for epoxy systems, allow turbine manufacturers to increase blade lengths while keeping blade weight under control. These longer blades generate higher turbine efficiency leading to a lower cost per kWh,” says Luc Peters, 3B wind energy technical product manager.
When comparing blades manufactured with traditional E-glass, HiPer-tex W2020 achieves up to 10 percent weight saving for the same blade design and length. Alternatively, the blade length can be extended by up to 6 percent while maintaining the same weight but offering up to 12 percent more energy output.
3B-the fibreglass company is a leading developer and supplier of fibreglass products and technologies for the reinforcement of thermoplastic and thermoset polymers. This dynamic and entrepreneurial company has two state of the art fibreglass manufacturing facilities in Battice, Belgium and Birkeland, Norway as well as a dedicated R&D Centre located in the heart of Europe. More information is available at www.3b-fibreglass.com.
