How Closed Mold Process Composites Benefit Wind Turbines

Closed mold processes produces a growing number of composite products for sectors of the U. S. economy such as the automotive industry and the energy production industry to name a few. 

However, one of the biggest beneficiaries of components produced by this process has been the industrial wind turbine and its blades. 

The Benefits of Closed Mold Processes for Wind Turbines

When most people see wind turbines turning in the breeze, they don’t typically think of the closed mold process, but this process and the composite products that are made using it are critical to the wind power industry. 

One of the primary areas of continuing development in wind power is the blades that rotate wind turbines to create electricity. These blades are being designed in ever-increasing lengths, and the closed mold process is one of the key factors that is supporting these blade length increases. 

In fact, this process recently allowed for the creation of the world’s longest wind turbine blade, which is 88.4 meters or 290 feet long. At 290 feet, this turbine blade is only 70 feet shorter than a regulation NFL football field. 

Such blades would be almost impossible to make without composite materials and closed mold processes. In fact, the benefits of composite materials for wind turbine blades includes the fact that these materials:

• Increase turbine efficiency due to increased blade lengths
• Produce 20-30% savings in overall blade weight
• Reduce total wind turbine system costs

With these and other benefits that closed mold process composites bring to wind turbine blades, the wind power industry is on track to continue the development of larger, more efficient and more cost-effective wind turbines in the near future. 

Composites One Is the Number One North American Composites Material Distributor

The team at Composites One is well versed in the advantages of composite materials and composite product manufacturing processes. In fact, we offer more than 2,000 products, including carbon fiber, epoxy resins, polyester resins and vinyl ester resins, from more than 600 suppliers. 

Our team also offers on-site training opportunities for companies interested in improving their composite manufacturing processes or safety procedures. All of these services could only come from the largest supplier of composite supplies in North America, Composites One.

For additional information about supply options or training opportunities offered by our team, contact Composites One now.