Coatings for Wind Towers

Madison Chemical Industries first supplied coatings for wind turbine towers in 2004 and to-date our coatings have been applied to approximately 400 towers spanning a number of projects, the largest of which was 200 for the Blue Canyon Wind Farm in Oklahoma. Although the performance requirements at the time were not, generally speaking, rigorous, we anticipated the day when leading edge technology would be expected. We embarked on a long term program to develop the next generation of wind tower coatings.

As this research work at Madison progressed, industry standards did in fact become more demanding. End users now require assurances that coatings will perform in the field – often in harsh environments – for 20 to 25 years. Specifically, these coatings must pass the requirements of ISO 12944, considered one of the world’s most demanding corrosion specifications. In the meantime, tower manufacturers are seeking ways to improve operating efficiencies and reduce costs, while delivering the quality that end users had come to expect.

In the end result, Madison has been able to provide both performance and cost savings. Madison has seven coating systems that comply with the requirements of both the ISO 12944 Category 3 (moderate service, urban, and industrial environments) and Category 4 (heavy service, industrial, and coastal environments) standards. And we don’t just meet the standards, we exceed them. As an example, our ceramic NanoShield technology provides exceptionally high abrasion resistance, a welcome feature, for instance, in rural areas with high winds and blowing dust and grit. With the rapid throughput offered by fast setting systems (cure to handle in minutes vs. several hours), fewer coats and reduced need for energy intensive post-curing, we provide coatings solutions offering applied cost savings in some cases in excess of 25%.

Work is ongoing with a view to further reduce applied coating costs while continuing to meet ISO standards for all types of service, from mild to severe.

The following chart summarizes the recommended Madison coating systems for your wind tower needs. For greater detail, we recommend you review the applicable technical data sheets and InfoTech Bulletin No. 31 Wind Tower Coatings.