Swancor launches recyclable thermosetting epoxy resin

Swancor (Nantou, Taiwan) has launched two new products, EzCiclo and CleaVER, to offer a new solution to recycle and reuse wind turbine blades. EzCiclo is a recyclable and reusable thermosetting epoxy resin, which, when used with carbon or glass fiber reinforcement, can be recycled and degraded via the company’s CleaVER technology. CleaVER is said to turn waste into reclaimed glass/carbon fibers and oligomers (a molecule), which reuses both reinforcement and resin by closing the loop; the recycling process also does not generate waste solvents and pollution, Swancor says. It can be applied across a range of industries and manufacturing processes in addition to wind, such as sporting goods and automotive.

Compared with existing composites recycling methods — pyrolysis and solvolysis — Swancor says its recycling system does not need to change the current wind blades production process and equipment; it doesn’t crush the fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP) before the decomposition process; has no waste solvent and waste gas in the recycling process; recycled fibers show equivalent mechanical performance to new fibers; oligomer could be reused; produces a minuscule carbon footprint; and meets RoHS and REACH qualifications.