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Current Status and Prospects of Resource Recycling Technology for Fiber-Reinforced

Received Date:2025-07-14 Revised Date:2025-08-15 Accepted Date:2025-08-23

DOI:10.20078/j.eep.20250901

Abstract:Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) are composed of reinforcing fibers and resin matrices, exhibiting excellent properties ... Open+
Abstract:Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) are composed of reinforcing fibers and resin matrices, exhibiting excellent properties such as light weight, high strength, corrosion resistance, and superior mechanical performance. With the large-scale application of FRPs in the renewable energy industry, such as wind turbine blades (WTBs), nacelles, photovoltaic brackets, new energy vehicle components, and battery storage enclosures, the issue of large-scale FRP decommissioning and recycling has become increasingly prominent. The complex condition of decommissioned materials, the inherent difficulty in separating thermosetting resins, and the still-imperfect recycling infrastructure make it crucial to achieve efficient and environmentally friendly recycling, avoid environmental pollution, and realize resource recovery. This article focuses on recycling solutions for FRPs in the renewable energy sector, systematically reviewing the comprehensive recycling technologies and highlighting innovations in three main process types: mechanical, pyrolytic, and chemical recycling. Mechanical recycling technology, through intelligent precision cutting and automatic sorting, effectively reduces fiber damage and enhances the application potential of recycled materials. Pyrolysis recycling technologies include high-temperature pyrolysis, fluidized bed pyrolysis, and microwave-assisted pyrolysis. By precisely controlling the temperature and reaction atmosphere, they significantly reduce thermal damage to fibers, achieving a fiber performance retention rate of over 90%; the resulting pyrolysis oil and gas are reused as valuable resources. Chemical recycling technologies, such as chemical swelling and supercritical fluid methods, achieve efficient fiber recovery by selectively breaking the chemical bonds at the resin-fiber interface. The research further highlights the development trends in fiber repair and interfacial modification technologies. Intermediate repair techniques such as sol-gel coating, plasma surface treatment, and electrochemical oxidation improve the interfacial performance between regenerated fibers and resin matrices by 15% to 40%, significantly enhancing the overall mechanical properties and durability of regenerated composite materials. In terms of high-value utilization pathways, regenerated fibers have been successfully applied in lightweight automotive components, aerospace structures, and components for ultra-large deep-sea wind power equipment, through innovative additive manufacturing technologies and the combined use of interfacial compatibilizers, significantly promoting the large-scale application of regenerated materials in high-end sectors. In addition, by treating by-products such as pyrolysis oil and gas through catalytic cracking, hydrodeoxygenation, and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, high-value-added aromatic chemicals, fuel oils, and high-purity hydrogen can be obtained, further enhancing the economic benefits of resource recovery. Lastly, the article proposes recommendations for full value-chain integration, the development of standardized systems, and intelligent digital control, emphasizing the need to establish a circular ecosystem that spans front-end pretreatment, intermediate-stage repair and regeneration, and back-end high-value applications to support the sustainable development of the renewable energy industry. Close-

Authors:

  • JIAO Long
  • HUA Ye
  • XU Jiaxin
  • YANG Guohao
  • ZHANG Jiajie
  • CHEN Xinhui
  • JIN Rouhan
  • HU Yanjun*

Units

  • Science and Education Integration College of Energy and Carbon Neutralization, Zhejiang University of Technology

Keywords

  • FRPs
  • Resins
  • Recycling  technologies
  • Modification  technologies
  • Application pathways

Citation

JIAO Long, HUA Ye, XU Jiaxin, YANG Guohao, ZHANG Jiajie, CHEN Xinhui, JIN Rouhan, HU Yanjun. Current Status and Prospects of Resource Recycling Technology for Fiber-Reinforced[J/OL]. Energy Environmental Protection: 1-14[2025-09-05]. https://doi.org/10.20078/j.eep.20250901. Polymers in the New Energy Industry

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