Reducing the electrical anisotropy in unidirectional CFRP materials for wind turbine blade applications

The incorporation of composite CFRP in wind turbine blades while to allows for longer and lighter blades challenges the efficiencyectiveness of their lightning protection system. The electrical anisotropy of these CFRP materials is a key factor and affects their performance. The present study investigates the influence of adding Graphene Oxide (GO) nanoparticles in to CFRP as a means to improve their electrical conductivity in the transverse and through thicknessthrough-thickness directions. Epoxy resin containing GO in filler contents of 5wt% and 6wt% was prepared and infused in unidirectional (UD) laminates. The GO nanofiller was dispersed in the epoxy resin prior to the infusion by means of speed mixing. The sample morphology was examined by means of optical microscopy. DC electrical resistance measurements were conducted in the transverse and through thicknessthrough-thickness directions to quantify the influence of the nanofiller. In For both filler volume contents loadings an increase was observed for both the transverse and through thicknessthrough-thickness directions compared to the neat CFRP.