BETWEEN THE LINES the challenge of recyclable windARKEMA TAKES UP turbineldsbae At present, the blades of the 20,000 wind turbines—that's around 550,000 tons of composite materials—installed on average each year worldwide are made from epoxy resin/ carbon or glass fiber-based thermoset composites. Their solidity and shock resistance make them materials of choice. The only disadvantage is a sizeable one: they cannot be recast and their end of life poses a serious environmental problem. In this fast-growing market, Elium thermoplastic resin now® makes it possible to manufacture blades from recyclable composites for the first time. 12