Tough lightweights for numerous applications

With their combination of high strength and low weight, composites can be put to diverse uses in a variety of applications and industries, where they even replace conventional materials, such as metal and wood. At the JEC World Composites trade fair in Paris from March 8-10, Covestro is presenting materials and processing solutions that support function integration and offer potential for cutting costs. These developments are based on the company’s extensive know-how in the use and processing of polyurethanes and polycarbonates.
Power generation from renewable sources is a key focus of Covestro. Together with Saertex, a leading manufacturer of speciality glass fabrics, Covestro has developed an innovative technology for manufacturing wind turbine rotor blades. The rotors are fabricated in a vacuum infusion process from a polyurethane resin and a glassfibre fabric. Both partners are exhibiting this technology at in Hall 5A.
"The polyurethane resin wets the glassfibres very effectively, forming a very durable but lightweight composite,” said Dr Andreas Hoffmann, Head of Polyurethane Composites Development at Covestro. "In view of its additional advantages over the epoxy resins used to date, our resin provides the ideal foundation for fabricating even larger and, therefore, more efficient wind turbines in the future.” The company recently made a prototype of a 45m-long spar cap for rotor blades.
Power generation from renewable sources is likewise the motivation behind Solar Impulse, an innovative project launched by aviation pioneers Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg. Covestro is both a project partner and an official technology partner responsible for the design and construction of the cockpit in the current aircraft. A special rigid polyurethane foam system helps to minimise cockpit weight and protect the pilots.
The automotive body of the future is lightweight, helping to save energy in traffic. Fibre-reinforced plastics have proven to be very effective in this application, as they help to reduce the weight of a vehicle, while simultaneously lending it high stiffness. Covestro has developed a new technology for the construction of sandwich components that also meet consumer demands for smooth, high quality surfaces.