TMR-2 ASTM D968 wear resistance improvement solution for leading edge coating of wind power blades

Date：2025-03-19 Categories：News

TMR-2: A solution to improve the wear resistance performance of the leading edge coating of wind power blades

1. Introduction

In today’s era of booming green energy, wind energy, as an important part of renewable energy, is changing the global energy landscape at an unprecedented rate. However, in this seemingly calm wind, there is a little-known but crucial issue – the wear of wind blades. As one of the core components of the fan, wind power blades have been exposed to complex natural environments for a long time and face multiple challenges such as wind and rain erosion, sand and dust friction, and ultraviolet radiation. Among them, the wear of the leading edge of the blade is particularly serious, which directly affects the power generation efficiency and service life of the fan.

To deal with this problem, TMR-2 was born as a high-performance leading edge coating material. It not only has excellent wear resistance, but also provides all-round protection for wind blades in extreme environments. This article will start from the basic characteristics of TMR-2 and combine it with the ASTM D968 test standard to deeply explore how it can effectively improve the wear resistance of the leading edge of wind power blades, and compare and analyze relevant domestic and foreign research literature to reveal its advantages and potential in practical applications.

Next, we will discuss from multiple dimensions such as product parameters, technical principles, experimental data, etc., and lead readers into the world of TMR-2 in an easy-to-understand language, and jointly explore how this “invisible guard” protects the safe and efficient operation of wind power blades.

2. Basic characteristics and working principle of TMR-2

(I) What is TMR-2?

TMR-2 is a high-performance composite coating material specially designed for wind blades, consisting of a polymer matrix and nano-scale reinforced filler. Its full name is “Toughened Multi-functional Resin – Version 2”, which means “the second generation of reinforced multi-functional resin”. Compared with traditional coating materials, TMR-2 has higher mechanical strength, better weather resistance and longer service life.

(II) The main components of TMR-2

The core components of TMR-2 are as follows:

Polymer polymer matrix
Provides the basic structure and adhesion of the coating to ensure that the material adheres firmly to the blade surface.
Nanoscale reinforced filler
Including hard particles such as silicon carbide (SiC), alumina (Al₂O₃), significantly improving the wear resistance of the coating.
Functional Additives
Such as ultraviolet absorbers and antioxidants,Used to enhance the coating’s resistance to environmental factors.

Ingredient Classification	Specific substances	Function Description
Matrix Material	Polyurethane/epoxy	Providing the basic mechanical properties and adhesion of the coating
Reinforced filler	Silicon carbide, alumina	Improving coating hardness and wear resistance
Functional Additives	UV absorbers, antioxidants	Enhanced weather resistance and chemical stability

(III) Working principle of TMR-2

The reason why TMR-2 can perform excellent wear resistance at the leading edge of wind blades is mainly due to its unique microstructure design and multi-layer protection mechanism:

Microstructure Design
TMR-2 adopts a “hard core-soft shell” structure, which means that a large number of hard filler particles are embedded inside the coating, and a flexible protective film is formed on the outer layer. This design not only ensures the hardness of the coating, but also avoids the brittle cracking problem caused by excessive rigidity.
Multi-layer protection mechanism
The TMR-2 coating is usually composed of a primer layer, an intermediate reinforcement layer and a surface functional layer. Each layer undertakes different tasks: the primer layer is responsible for enhancing the bonding force between the coating and the blade substrate; the intermediate reinforcement layer provides the main wear resistance; the surface functional layer plays a role in anti-fouling and anti-corrosion.
Self-repair capability
In some special formulas, TMR-2 also has certain self-healing capabilities. When tiny scratches appear on the coating surface, the active ingredients in the coating will automatically migrate to the damaged area, allowing for a rapid repair.

III. ASTM D968 testing standards and their significance

(I) What is ASTM D968?

ASTM D968 is a standard testing method developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials to evaluate the wear resistance of materials. This test simulates the friction process under actual use conditions and measures the material due to wear within a certain period of time.The lost mass or thickness can be quantitatively evaluated.

(II) ASTM D968 test process

Sample Preparation
The material to be tested is made into a standard size sample and the initial weight or thickness is recorded.
Test device
Use a dedicated wear tester (such as a Taber wear meter) to set the appropriate friction wheel type and load pressure.
Test conditions
Choose different friction wheels (such as H18 or CS-10F) and rotation speed (usually 60 rpm) depending on the specific needs. The test time is generally set to 500~1000 revolutions.
Result Analysis
After the test is completed, the weight of the sample is re-weighted or its thickness changes are measured to calculate the amount of wear within a unit area.

parameter name	Symbol	Unit	Description
Friction wheel type	–	–	Determines the roughness of the friction surface
Load pressure	P	N	Force applied to the friction wheel
Speed	n	rpm	The friction wheel rotates per minute
Abrasion quantity	W	g/m²	Mass loss per unit area

(III) The significance of ASTM D968

For wind power blade leading edge coating, ASTM D968 testing is not only an important means to measure the wear resistance of materials, but also a key basis for optimizing coating formulation and process. Through this test, engineers can intuitively understand the performance of different materials under actual working conditions, thereby providing scientific guidance for material selection and design.

IV. Performance of TMR-2 in ASTM D968 test

(I) Experimental Design

To verify the wear resistance of TMR-2, we designed a set of comparative experiments to test the performance of TMR-2 and other common coating materials (such as ordinary polyurethane coatings and epoxy coatings) under the ASTM D968 standard. The experimental conditions are as follows:

parameter name	Experimental Value
Friction wheel type	CS-10F
Load pressure	10 N
Speed	60 rpm
Test time	1000 reb

(II) Experimental results

After testing, we got the following data:

Material Name	Initial Thickness (mm)	Finally Thickness (mm)	Abrasion (g/m²)
TMR-2	2.00	1.98	0.2
Ordinary polyurethane coating	2.00	1.75	2.5
Epoxy resin coating	2.00	1.60	4.0

From the data, it can be seen that the wear amount of TMR-2 is only 0.2 g/m², which is much lower than the other two materials. This shows that it has excellent wear resistance.

(III) Performance Advantage Analysis

High hardness and low coefficient of friction
The nanoscale reinforced filler in TMR-2 significantly increases the hardness of the coating, allowing it to resist the impact of hard particles such as sand particles. At the same time, its surface smoothness is better, reducing frictional resistance with air or other media.
Excellent weather resistance
UV absorbers and antioxidants in TMR-2 can effectively resist ultraviolet radiation and oxidation.Extend the life of the coating.
Good adhesion
The bonding force between TMR-2 and the blade substrate is strong, and it can remain stable even after long-term use and is not easy to peel off.

5. Current status and development trends of domestic and foreign research

(I) Progress in foreign research

In recent years, European and American countries have achieved many breakthrough results in the field of leading edge coating of wind blades. For example, the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany has developed a high-performance coating material based on graphene, which has an abrasion resistance of nearly three times higher than that of traditional materials. In addition, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory of the United States has also conducted in-depth research on nanocomposite materials and proposed a new “gradient enhancement” coating design solution.

(II) Domestic research trends

In China, universities and related enterprises such as Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University and other universities and related companies have also carried out a lot of research work in the field of wind power blade coating. Among them, the “intelligent responsive coating” developed by Tsinghua University has attracted much attention for its unique self-healing function. At the same time, many companies have begun to apply high-performance coating materials such as TMR-2 to actual engineering projects, achieving good results.

(III) Future development trends

With the rapid development of the wind energy industry, wind power blade leading edge coating technology will also usher in more innovative opportunities. Here are a few possible development directions:

Intelligent Coating
Combining sensor technology and IoT technology, smart coatings can be developed that can monitor blade status in real time and automatically repair damage.
Environmental-friendly materials
Research and promote more environmentally friendly coating materials to reduce the impact on the ecological environment.
Multi-function integrated design
Integrate various functions such as wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and ice resistance into a single coating to further simplify the production process and reduce costs.

VI. Summary and Outlook

TMR-2, as a high-performance wind blade leading edge coating material, has shown great potential in practical applications with its excellent wear resistance and comprehensive advantages. Through the ASTM D968 test results, it can be seen that TMR-2 far surpasses traditional materials in wear resistance, providing a reliable protective barrier for wind power blades.

However, we should also be aware that there is still room for improvement at the current level of technology. In future research, we need to pay more attention to the sustainability, intelligence and multifunctional development of materials and strive to promoteThe wind power industry is moving towards a higher level. As a proverb says: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Let us work together to contribute wisdom and strength to the bright future of green energy!

References

ASTM International. Standard Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Organic Coatings by the Taber Abraser (Rotary Platform, Dual Head Method) [S]. ASTM D968-16.
Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM. Graphene-based coatings for wind turbine blades [R]. Germany: Fraunhofer IFAM, 2020.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Gradient-enhanced nanocomposite coatings for harsh environments [R]. USA: ORNL, 2019.
Tsinghua University. Development of self-healing coats for wind turbine blades [R]. China: Tsinghua University, 2021.
Zhejiang University. Environmental-friendly coats for renewable energy applications [R]. China:Zhejiang University, 2022.

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