Sand erosion may cause severe damage of blades in wind turbine and helicopter blades as well as many surface components of airplanes. In this study, thin nanopapers made of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) are used to enhance the resistance of solid particle erosion of glass fiber (GF)/wind epoxy composites. Finite element computer simulations are used to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. The much higher particle erosion resistance of nanopapers compared to GF-reinforced epoxy composites is attributed to the high strength of CNFs and their nanoscale structure. The excellent performance in particle erosion resistance makes the CNF-based nanopaper a prospective protective coating material for the turbine blades in the wind energy industry. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013