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Old 01-05-10, 09:47 PM   #1
lichong712
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Default 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

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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.


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Old 01-20-10, 05:49 PM   #2
Ryland
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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.
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Old 02-01-10, 07:17 AM   #3
WisJim
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Latex paint might work, but I wouldn't expect PVC to hold up too long no matter what you did to the material.
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Old 02-01-10, 09:41 AM   #4
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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.
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Old 02-01-10, 09:39 PM   #5
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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.
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Old 02-02-10, 12:31 PM   #6
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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.

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