Estudo do envelhecimento acelerado em materiais compósitos revestidos com poliuretano aplicados em aerogeradores

Abstract

In recent decades, there has been a growing demand for utilization of wind power worldwide. This trend is transforming wind blades in one of the most important applications of polymeric composites. Some components of a wind turbine are made of polymeric composites and wind blades represent the largest use of this material. This study aims to assess the effects of accelerated aging in samples of composite materials coated with polyurethane used in wind turbines. The composite is made of epoxy resin reinforced with glass fibers and coated with polyurethane. The accelerated aging test simulates an enhanced form natural weathering (solar radiation, humidity and temperature). The composite plates were characterized by non-destructive testing of ultrasonic waves and acoustic emission; tensile tests and Izod; thermal analyzes thermogravimetricanalysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); optical microscopy and the degree of chalking. Because of the high attenuation coefficient characteristic of materials with more than one constituency and the consequent absence of acoustic feedback, the ultrasound test didn`t succeed. Through the advances in accelerated degradation was stable on mean average velocity of wave propagation and attenuation coefficient of the composite by means of acoustic emission test. The tensile tests and Izod showed that the accelerated aging interfered with the following properties: modulus of elasticity, tensile strength,ultimate elongation and Izod impact. By the technique of TGA, there was change in maximum temperature of degradation and stabilization in the residual mass with the advances in accelerated degradation. By DSC it was possible to detect a decrease in glass transition temperature (Tg). The optical microscope demonstrated that no changes in the surface of the coating polyurethane and polyurethane-epoxy interface and degradation occurred in the fiber-matrix interface (the exposed radiation face) in the composite by the progress of accelerated aging. However, measuring the degree of deterioration showed chalking surface of the polyurethane coating. With all the results, these studies conclude that the accelerated aging affect the performance of materials used in wind turbines.