Wind energy is considered a clean, sustainable form of power production, but wind turbine components The new composite, Elium, cures without added heat and can be recycled when the turbine needs to be replaced. Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory and IACMI-The Composites Institutethemselves are not as environmentally benign as they could be. Very little of the thermoset composites reinforced by fiber now used to manufacture wind turbine blades can be recycled after the 20-25 year service life of most wind energy systems.

Materials research conducted at Vanderbilt University as part of an Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation research consortium initiative has resulted in a recyclable resin that cures at room temperature. The resin, called Elium, generates its own heat, cures without creating flaws in the fiberglass and lends itself to recycling. Researchers have tested the resin’s self-setting properties using infrared imaging and developed an algorithm that manufacturers can use in setting up the process on their production lines.

In the future, the new resin is expected to help reduce manufacturing costs, improve reliability of turbines and reduce life-cycle energy use. In the near-term, the team plans to scale up the process from test-size components to full-sized blades.