AEROSIL® fumed silica for structural adhesives

Wind turbines (Nordex AG, Norderstedt/Germany)

Wind turbines must be able to provide twenty years of service without requiring large-scale repairs. High demands are placed on the durability behaviour of the rotor blades, especially in large units with power outputs of 2.5 and 5 MW. The quality of a rotor blade is determined by the reliability of its many adhesive bonds.

The use of systems with a high degree of thixotropy is necessary to prevent the sagging of the adhesive on sloping or vertical walls during processing. The special hydrophobic AEROSIL^® grades are particularly well suited for this purpose. Currently, there are adhesives based on epoxy resin, polyurethane, vinylester/polyester resin, and methacrylates available for this application.