Case studies

Silicone adhesives are used to bond the rotor blades to help them withstand the intense pressure they are under from the wind. Rotor blades must be durable and reliable, providing up to twenty years of service without needing major repairs.

Silicone-based adhesives are durable and resist the tough conditions of a wind turbine. Turbines need to be where the wind is and this may be 100 metres up off the ground or offshore 100km from land. Adhesives need to be resistant to outdoor exposure and significant temperature ranges.

In addition to the external factors faced by an adhesive bond on a wind turbine, it must also withstand the centrifugal forces applied to each blade and be resistant to stress.

» Why use silicone adhesives?

Silicone technology provides adhesives which respond to the needs of wind turbine manufacturers. With silicone technology, formulators are able to define the exact characteristics of the bond needed.

In addition to their excellent adhesion properties, silicone-based adhesives can be developed to meet all the challenges faced by a turbine manufacturer. They can bond very large components such as rotor blades which have a diameter of up to 90 metres, while at the same time filling gaps which are inevitable in joint structures up to 60 meters long.

Silicone adhesives maintain bond strength for the blade's lifetime under constant thermal cycling and environmental attack and help the rotor blades endure extreme conditions for more than 20 years.

Silicones are revolutionising the technology of adhesion. One major benefit of silicone adhesives is their versatility. They can be formulated for every possible variation of stickiness - from easy-release medical tapes or sticky notes to the toughest glues, capable of bonding glass, metal or stone and withstanding hostile conditions.

On the wind turbine, applications such as bonding the metal bolts that attach the blades to the hubs are complicated by the very different thermal expansion coefficients of the metals and composites to which they are bonded. Siliconebased adhesives have been developed for this demanding application, allowing manufacturers to bind together materials that were traditionally difficult to unite.

» Silicones for a sustainable future

A new generation of offshore wind turbines is currently being tested*. Standing 180 metres tall with their blades in the highest position, these giants can generate 15 million kWh of renewable energy annually, enough for 4,000 four-person households. Future innovations like this, supported by silicone technology, will make a real contribution to the three pillars of sustainable development - environment, economy and society.

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