@article{06b29db526f540bda09618ebf10ddb96,
title = "Graphene/sol–gel modified polyurethane coating for wind turbine blade leading edge protection: Properties and performance",
abstract = "The development of two novel elastomeric erosion resistant coatings for the protection of wind turbine blades is presented. The coatings are prepared by modifying polyurethane (PU) with (i) hydroxyl functionalised graphene nanoparticles (f-GNP) and (ii) f-GNP and a hydrophobic silica-based sol–gel (SG). Tensile, monotonic and cyclic compression and tearing tests have been conducted on the neat PU and the two newly developed elastomeric PU nanocomposites (PU + GNP and PU + GNP + SG) to allow their properties to be compared. The test results showed that the mechanical properties of PU and the modified PUs have strong dependency on temperature, strain rate and nanoparticles loading and addition of GNP and SG to PU improved the mechanical properties. Compared to PU, Young{\textquoteright}s modulus and modulus of toughness of PU + GNP + SG increased 95% and 124%, respectively. The PU + GNP nanocomposite displayed the highest tearing strength and the PU + GNP + SG nanocomposite showed the highest elongation at break. An investigation of the microstructures of the modified PUs by FTIR, field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) are discussed. Hydrophobicity of the PU and developed PU nanocomposites are reported by measuring their water droplet contact angles and their free surface energies.",
keywords = "erosion resistance, Graphene, polyurethane, silica, sol–gel, wind turbine blade",
author = "Arash Dashtkar and Johansen, {Nicolai Frost Jensen} and Leon Mishnaevsky and Williams, {Neil A.} and Hasan, {Shadi W.} and Wadi, {Vijay S.} and Alessio Silvello and Homayoun Hadavinia",
note = "Funding Information: The authors HH and AD are grateful to Dr Fanya Ismail from SGMA (Sol-Gel Materials & Applications Ltd) Company, UK, for in-kind supply of sol–gel material and assistance from mechanical testing technician Dean Wells at Kingston University. The authors LM and NFJJ gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Innovation Foundation of Denmark in the framework of the Grand Solutions project DURALEDGE, Durable leading edges for high tip speed wind turbine blades, File nr.: 8055-00012A. Funding Information: The authors HH and AD are grateful to Dr Fanya Ismail from SGMA (Sol-Gel Materials & Applications Ltd) Company, UK, for in-kind supply of sol–gel material and assistance from mechanical testing technician Dean Wells at Kingston University. The authors LM and NFJJ gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Innovation Foundation of Denmark in the framework of the Grand Solutions project DURALEDGE, Durable leading edges for high tip speed wind turbine blades, File nr.: 8055-00012A. The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the Innovation Foundation of Denmark, File nr.: 8055-00012A. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2022.",
year = "2022",
month = jan,
day = "21",
doi = "10.1177/09673911221074197",
language = "British English",
volume = "30",
journal = "Polymers and Polymer Composites",
issn = "0967-3911",
publisher = "RAPRA Technology Ltd.",
}