How to protect PVC-made wind blades?

lichong712 · 01-05-10, 10:47 PM

Exposed to sunlight for long periods of time, I am worried about PVC-made blades will be fragile. so how to protect them? cover any kind of paint on them

Ryland · 01-20-10, 06:49 PM

I don't know of any reputable company making blades out of PVC, it's just not strong enough, so it shouldn't be an issue, other plastic based blades tend to have UV stabilizers in the plastic, but on top of that they have to hold up to the stress of high wind, centrifugal force, dust in the air hitting them, ice clinging to them.
being a wind turbine is not an easy job.

WisJim · 02-01-10, 08:17 AM

Latex paint might work, but I wouldn't expect PVC to hold up too long no matter what you did to the material.

wyatt · 02-01-10, 10:41 AM

I've heard of people making their own blades... I think you can even find "PVC Optimized" designs online for making your own. There was a guy that built his own wind turbine and had one blade fail due to 50+mph winds. I don't think it had lasted long enough to have UV problems. Check out his web site. I would think if you wanted them to hold up you may be able to make them, then sand them and coat with a couple layers of fiberglass with resin. It will protect the PVC from the sun, and add substantial strength to the overall blade.

Ryland · 02-01-10, 10:39 PM

The trouble with PVC is that it is not good for making blades out of, it's weak, it has very little spring to it but will shatter when it goes cold or after it ages and off the top of my head I can't think of anything that will stick to it other then solvent based glues and those seem to only work because they melt the PVC, fiberglass will flake off, not something good to have happen to a spinning prop.

wyatt · 02-02-10, 01:31 PM

Perhaps you could use the extreme smoothness to your advantage, use a PVC blade as a male mold for making fiberglass blades...

Blades could also be shaped out of foam and fiberglassed using this technique. The resulting blade would be super strong and light, and any shape that you want.

01-05-10, 10:47 PM	#1
lichong712 Lurking Renovator Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	How to protect PVC-made wind blades? Exposed to sunlight for long periods of time, I am worried about PVC-made blades will be fragile. so how to protect them? cover any kind of paint on them __________________ measure your local wind speed and blade diameter ,then use formula to calculate the outputs in watts, Test wether you build homemade wind turbines or not. *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.*

01-20-10, 06:49 PM	#2
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 913 Thanks: 127 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	I don't know of any reputable company making blades out of PVC, it's just not strong enough, so it shouldn't be an issue, other plastic based blades tend to have UV stabilizers in the plastic, but on top of that they have to hold up to the stress of high wind, centrifugal force, dust in the air hitting them, ice clinging to them. being a wind turbine is not an easy job.

02-01-10, 08:17 AM	#3
WisJim Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 42 Thanks: 7 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	Latex paint might work, but I wouldn't expect PVC to hold up too long no matter what you did to the material.

02-01-10, 10:41 AM	#4
wyatt Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 75 Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I've heard of people making their own blades... I think you can even find "PVC Optimized" designs online for making your own. There was a guy that built his own wind turbine and had one blade fail due to 50+mph winds. I don't think it had lasted long enough to have UV problems. Check out his web site. I would think if you wanted them to hold up you may be able to make them, then sand them and coat with a couple layers of fiberglass with resin. It will protect the PVC from the sun, and add substantial strength to the overall blade.

02-01-10, 10:39 PM	#5
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 913 Thanks: 127 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	The trouble with PVC is that it is not good for making blades out of, it's weak, it has very little spring to it but will shatter when it goes cold or after it ages and off the top of my head I can't think of anything that will stick to it other then solvent based glues and those seem to only work because they melt the PVC, fiberglass will flake off, not something good to have happen to a spinning prop.

02-02-10, 01:31 PM	#6
wyatt Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 75 Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Perhaps you could use the extreme smoothness to your advantage, use a PVC blade as a male mold for making fiberglass blades... Blades could also be shaped out of foam and fiberglassed using this technique. The resulting blade would be super strong and light, and any shape that you want.