EUROPE

International Coatings Scene

“The most technologically complex part of the turbine for coatings producers are the blades, which can rotate at speeds of around 200 kilometers (124 miles) per hour.”

winds. They are also driving the devel-
opment of larger and larger turbine
sizes. Larger turbines means bigger
blades, which means faster tip speeds
and therefore more aggressive service
environments.”
“Hitting anything at this speed,
including rain drops, can generate a lot
of impact energy,” he continued. “Being
able to withstand this constant better-
ing year in and year out has proven to
be a challenge to many current wind
blade coatings, and it remains one of the
largest challenges for future product
development.”
Anti-fouling coating systems for
ships hulls can be applied to the static
foundations of wind turbines despite
the absence of the fast moving waters
around marine vessels.

“The static water performance of our
Intersleek fouling release fluropolymer
range has proven to be very effective,”
said O’Brien. “It has been successfully
employed on a range of static structures
from offshore fixed platforms, to ocean
moored sea buoys. In many cases nor-
mal tidal or wave motion has proven
more than adequate to keep the surface
fouling free.”
Anti-fouling coatings are also being
applied in tidal and wave power
installations, which offer a wide range
of surfaces for marine organisms such
as algae, barnacles, mussels and tube
worms to adhere to.

“With tidal and wave power there will
be a greater need for anti-fouling coat-
ings,” said Likouressis. “Our anti-foul-
ing silicon gel technology will help in
this area.”
Energy from tidal and wave power
is an example of a new technological
area where protective coatings suppli-
ers feel the need to be involved in the
early stages because it has the poten-
tial to be a huge market. Among sys-
tems under development are oscillat-
ing water columns, compression-driv-
en turbines and hydraulic rams that
power motors.

AkzoNobel is already participating in two wave power schemes both being developed by two Scotland-based companies—Pelamis and Aquamarine Power. Aquamarine Power’s goal is to develop commercial wave farms around the world.

“The biggest challenges technologically in tidal and wave scheme are related to keeping up with technological changes,” said O’Brien. “This includes the number of differing tidal and wave power prototypes currently available. Those that will be ultimately not economically feasible is difficult to predict.

“Understanding the true protective coating requirements of these structures is the daunting task before us,” O’Brien said. CW

Use grind gages more consistently.

Little Joe Industries offers the ADM Automatic Draw-Down Machine for use with grind gages. The ADM automates the draw down process controlling scraper angle, speed, and force. Since these aspects are no longer operator dependent your grind gage draw-downs will be more consistent while requiring less operator training and supervision.