Directly High-value Reusability of Selective Degradable Epoxy Resins for Wind Turbine Blades

Yu Wang; Dan Li; Yu Wu; Tao-Rui Zhu; Su-Fang Chen; Jun-Heng Zhang; Xiong-Jie Li; Dao-Hong Zhang

doi:10.1007/s10118-025-3459-7

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Directly High-value Reusability of Selective Degradable Epoxy Resins for Wind Turbine Blades

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2025-12-03

- Directly High-value Reusability of Selective Degradable Epoxy Resins for Wind Turbine Blades
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 43, Issue 12, Pages: 2264-2273(2025)
- Affiliations：
  
  a.Key Laboratory of Catalysis and Energy Materials Chemistry of Ministry of Education & Hubei Key Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials Science, Hubei R & D Center of Hyperbranched Polymers Synthesis and Applications, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan 430074, China
  b.Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China
- Author bio：
  
  xiongjieli@mail.scuec.edu.cn (X.J.L.)
  daohong.zhang@scuec.edu.cn (D.H.Z.)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-025-3459-7
  CLC：
- Received：25 July 2025，
  
  Accepted：18 September 2025，
  
  Online First：19 November 2025，
  
  Published：15 December 2025
- Accepted：
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Wang, Y.; Li, D.; Wu, Y.; Zhu, T. R.; Chen, S. F.; Zhang, J. H.; Li, X. J.; Zhang, D. H. Directly high-value reusability of selective degradable epoxy resins for wind turbine blades. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2025, 43, 2264–2273

Yu Wang, Dan Li, Yu Wu, et al. Directly High-value Reusability of Selective Degradable Epoxy Resins for Wind Turbine Blades[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2025, 43(12): 2264-2273.
Wang, Y.; Li, D.; Wu, Y.; Zhu, T. R.; Chen, S. F.; Zhang, J. H.; Li, X. J.; Zhang, D. H. Directly high-value reusability of selective degradable epoxy resins for wind turbine blades. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2025, 43, 2264–2273 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3459-7.

Yu Wang, Dan Li, Yu Wu, et al. Directly High-value Reusability of Selective Degradable Epoxy Resins for Wind Turbine Blades[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2025, 43(12): 2264-2273. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3459-7.

摘要

Introducing degradable Schiff base bonds into the epoxy network enables selective degradation and direct recycling. The resulting materials combine enhanced mechanical strength with excellent reusability

providing a sustainable route for high-value recovery of wind turbine blades and extended service life under harsh conditions.

Abstract

The poor degradability and limited recyclability of epoxy resins are key challenges hindering the efficient recycling of ex-service wind turbine blades (EWTBs). Herein

we proposed a selective degradation strategy for direct recycling and high-value recovery of epoxy resins by introducing degradable Schiff base groups into the molecular structure and utilizing the resulting oligomers as curing agents. To realize this strategy

a series of Schiff base compounds were synthesized using bio-based vanillin and diamines and subsequently functionalized with epichlorohydrin to yield bio-based epoxy resins. The cured epoxy resins demonstrated remarkable improvements in the mechanical properties of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA)

with an increases of 44.49% in the tensile strength of 38.55%

bending strength

and impact strength of 71.20%. The introduction of dynamic Schiff base bonds enabled the selective degradation of the vanillin-2

2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]propane-based epoxy resin (VBEP)/DGEBA copolymer

producing 84.20% oligomers that can be directly recycled and reused. Replacing 30 wt% of the curing agent with the oligomer increased the tensile strength of the cured sample to 75.40 MPa

surpassing that of the cured DGEBA. Under simulated acid rain and seawater exposure

the copolymer exhibited a service life of 27 years at 40 °C

significantly exceeding the currently reported service life of 20 years. This study presents a sustainable strategy for the direct recycling and high-value reuse of epoxy resin

offering a promising solution for EWTBs.

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references

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