Manufacture and testing of biomass-derivable thermosets for wind blade recycling

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Clarke, Ryan W.; Rognerud, Erik G.; Puente-Urbina, Allen; Barnes, David; Murdy, Paul; McGraw, Michael L.; Newkirk, Jimmy M.; Beach, Ryan; Wrubel, Jacob A.; Hamernik, Levi J.; Chism, Katherine A.; Baer, Andrea L.; Beckham, Gregg T.; Murray, Robynne E.; Rorrer, Nicholas A.
• 署名单位: United States Department of Energy (DOE); National Renewable Energy Laboratory - USA; United States Department of Energy (DOE); National Renewable Energy Laboratory - USA
• 刊物名称: SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0036-12020
• DOI: 10.1126/science.adp5395
• 发表日期: 2024-08-23
• 页码: 854-860
• 关键词: turbine blade; composites; waste

摘要

Wind energy is helping to decarbonize the electrical grid, but wind blades are not recyclable, and current end-of-life management strategies are not sustainable. To address the material recyclability challenges in sustainable energy infrastructure, we introduce scalable biomass-derivable polyester covalent adaptable networks and corresponding fiber-reinforced composites for recyclable wind blade fabrication. Through experimental and computational studies, including vacuum-assisted resin-transfer molding of a 9-meter wind blade prototype, we demonstrate drop-in technological readiness of this material with existing manufacture techniques, superior properties relative to incumbent materials, and practical end-of-life chemical recyclability. Most notable is the counterintuitive creep suppression, outperforming industry state-of-the-art thermosets despite the dynamic cross-link topology. Overall, this report details the many facets of wind blade manufacture, encompassing chemistry, engineering, safety, mechanical analyses, weathering, and chemical recyclability, enabling a realistic path toward biomass-derivable, recyclable wind blades.