Dow Formulated Systems, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: Dow), today announced the introduction of the COMPAXXTM 700 foam core system for wind blades, the first in a line of new core materials that will help manufacturers extend blade life through the creation of high performance sandwich composites.
Extensive sandwich panel fatigue testing following the latest Germanische Lloyd requirements showed COMPAXXTM 700 exhibits long-term dynamic behavior and shear strength properties yielding lightweight composites with excellent mechanical strength and fatigue resistance. These properties, coupled with peel strength about three times higher than the historical reference of core material PVC 60 kg/m3, create the intimate core-to-skin bond necessary to achieve blade durability.
In addition, COMPAXXTM 700 offers a high run-to-run consistency leading to predictable mechanical properties that structural engineers can use to create more precise blades.
Jean Luc Guillaume, Global Business Leader for Wind Energy Systems for Dow Formulated Systems, noted that “the COMPAXXTM 700 foam core, AIRSTONETM epoxy systems, and our ongoing innovations and capital investments reflect Dow’s strong commitment to meeting the needs of the global wind power market with industry leading technology, reliable product supply, and consistent high quality.”
