Tough Turbines: Exploring Properties of Graphene and SiC-Reinforced Epoxy Coatings for Hydropower in Untapped Flows

Overview

Mini hydropower is underused in wastewater treatment due to high costs and abrasive grit flows. Epoxy reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) or silicon carbide (SiC) may improve hardness, adhesion, and erosion resistance for stainless steel mini hydropower turbines. Four coatings were tested: epoxy control, epoxy +1% GNP, epoxy +7.5% SiC, hybrid. Erosion resistance was measured via 3-day tumbler mass loss, pencil hardness, and crosshatch adhesion. Flow conditions ( Re between 134 and 355) indicated transitional particle behavior, similar to bay area wastewater systems. Mass loss differed significantly (p = 0.013), with GNP preserving mass 6x control (0.15% vs. 0.97%). Thickness loss rates were 12 um/d (GNP) and 84 um/d(control). SiC-containing coatings showed highest hardness (p = 0.001), but GNP performed better in erosion, suggesting stress distribution is critical. Hybrids had no advantage. At 0.3% cost of thermal coatings, single fillers showed the strongest potential to extend turbine lifespan.

Competition history

• CSEF 2026 Applied Mechanics (Senior Division) · Entry S-02-18

Related projects

Closest projects by meaning, across every fair and year in the corpus.

Browse more like this

• All Engineering projects
• CSEF Engineering projects
• Every CSEF 2026 project