Global: BASF’s leading-edge protection for rotor blades passes 50 hours rain test

BASF supports the wind energy sector with special systems and products and has launched an innovative coatings solution for rotor blades: RELEST® Wind LEP S. It has recently passed an external 50 hours rain erosion test by a renowned institute from Denmark and thus outperformed other well-known rain erosion resistant coatings.

The stress loads to which rotor blades are exposed during the operation are enormous: at top speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour at the blade tips, gigantic forces act upon the blades. Moreover, weather influences such as rain, snow, hail, sand, heat and UV radiation wear out the blades and lead to more frequent repair and maintenance intervals. To prevent the material from damages caused by these influences, the Coatings division of BASF has developed a solution for long-lasting protection. The system – consisting of a gel coat, a filler, an edge protection and a topcoat – is based entirely on solvent-free, two-component polyurethane compounds, thus complying with present VOC directives. Within BASF’s coatings portfolio for the wind energy sector, RELEST Wind LEP S stands for excellent sustainable and efficient leading edge protection.

RELEST Wind LEP S provides rotor blades with the optimum protection due to its excellent rain erosion resistance. The recent test showed that with a speed of up to 160 m/s (approx. 570 km/h), the rain did not cause any significant damage on the coating. The material is virtually solvent-free as well as being exceptionally durable and UV stable.

Perfectly suited for OEMs, the material can be easily applied directly on the rotor blade. RELEST Wind LEP S improves the efficiency of the wind turbine operation by providing an effective erosion protection, thus reducing potential maintenance costs. With its low film thickness and easy application, it is the ideal material matching the customers’ requirements.

BASF supplies the matching coating system for all components under the trade name RELEST, from the base of the wind power plant to the rotor blade edge and thus provides innovative products for the energy of the future.