Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-02-04 Origin: Site
With the rapid development of renewable energy technologies, wind power, as a representative of green energy, has assumed an increasingly important position in the global energy mix. The performance of wind turbine blades, one of the most core components in a wind turbine system, directly determines the operating efficiency, cost control, and service life of the entire wind turbine. Among various materials, carbon fiber and glass fiber are widely used in wind turbine blade manufacturing. This article will analyze the reasons from multiple perspectives and provide reference for industry users and material purchasers.
During operation, wind turbine blades must withstand strong winds, variable loads, vibration, and other stresses. Therefore, materials must possess excellent strength and rigidity to ensure long-term stable operation.
The longer the wind turbine blade, the higher its wind capture efficiency, but also increases its mass. To reduce structural weight and moment of inertia, the material density must be as low as possible.
Wind turbine blades operate outdoors, subject to long-term load cycles. They require extremely high fatigue strength and durability to prevent structural fatigue failure.
Wind turbine systems are often deployed offshore or on plateaus, exposed to harsh natural environments such as humidity, salt spray, and ultraviolet rays. This places extremely high demands on the corrosion resistance of materials.
Carbon fiber's specific strength (strength/density) far exceeds that of metal, making it an ideal choice for lightweighting large blades. Its high specific modulus effectively improves the overall rigidity of the blade.
Carbon fiber has a significantly longer fatigue life than traditional materials, extending the service life and power generation efficiency of the blades while reducing ongoing maintenance costs.
Lighter blades reduce the load on the wind turbine tower, while also improving starting sensitivity and power generation efficiency. Carbon fiber has become a standard feature in high-end blades for wind turbines above megawatt level.
Carbon fiber is commonly used in the main beam and rib structure of blades. Combined with a high-performance epoxy resin system, it creates composite components with extremely high structural strength.
Compared to carbon fiber, glass fiber is less expensive and is currently the most widely used composite reinforcement material in wind turbine blades.
Glass fiber has excellent tensile strength and insulation properties, making it suitable for structural components in most small and medium-sized wind turbine blades.
It has strong resistance to acids, alkalis, and salt spray, and its versatile processing methods and adaptability facilitate the manufacture of blades with complex geometries.
Glass fiber is commonly used in the skin of wind turbine blades, forming a complementary structure with the carbon fiber main beam, reducing overall manufacturing costs.
| Performance Index | Carbon Fiber Composite Material | Glass Fiber Composite Material |
| Density (g/cm³) | 1.6 - 1.9 | 2.0 - 2.5 |
| Tensile Strength (MPa) | 3500 - 6000 | 1000 - 2500 |
| Elastic Modulus (GPa) | 230 - 600 | 70 - 90 |
| Fatigue Performance | Excellent | Good |
| Cost | High | Medium-Low |
| Application Areas | Main beams, stiffeners | Skins, auxiliary structures |
| Corrosion Resistance | Excellent | Excellent |
As shown in the table above, carbon fiber is primarily used in the mid-section and root sections of blades, where higher rigidity and fatigue resistance are required, while glass fiber is suitable for manufacturing blade surfaces and secondary load-bearing areas. Both materials complement each other in wind turbine blade structures, each playing an irreplaceable role.
Currently, mainstream onshore wind turbine blades have reached lengths exceeding 70 meters, and offshore wind turbine blades have even surpassed 100 meters. This places higher demands on material strength and stability, and demand for carbon fiber applications continues to grow.
With the accelerated deployment of clean energy in Europe, Asia, and North America, the market demand for high-performance composite materials in the wind power industry has exploded.
The maturity of molding technologies such as VARTM (Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding) and HP-RTM (High-Pressure Resin Transfer Molding) has provided manufacturing support for the widespread application of carbon fiber and glass fiber in the wind power industry.
As a professional company specializing in the research, development, production, and sales of carbon fiber and release materials, Revolve CF is committed to providing high-performance composite material solutions to wind power equipment manufacturers. Our products include:
Various types of high-strength carbon fiber cloth and carbon fiber prepreg
Various types of glass fiber cloth and glass fiber winding yarn
Specialized epoxy systems, release agents, and auxiliary materials
Customized structural composite products and technical support services
For purchase or wholesale of carbon fiber and glass fiber products, please contact us at HarveyXu@revolve-cf.com. As a supplier of carbon fiber and glass fiber products, Revolve CF is dedicated to providing high-quality materials to customers in the global wind power industry.
As a key pillar industry in achieving the goals of "carbon peak and carbon neutrality," wind power generation is placing increasing demands on material performance. Carbon fiber and glass fiber, with their respective material advantages, play an indispensable role in wind turbine blade manufacturing. In the future, as wind turbines become larger and more intelligent, the demand for high-performance composite materials will continue to grow. Choosing a professional, stable, and technologically advanced materials supplier, such as Revolve CF, will undoubtedly provide strong support for improving product performance and optimizing costs.
