Search Results

Over 250 million tires are scrapped in the United States each year. Tires have been a problematic scrap because they have been designed to resist destruction, and have a tendency to float upwards in landfills. Improper storage has resulted in tire fires1--an even more problematic environmental concern than unsightly piles which can serve as breeding grounds for insect vectors. A better solution is to recover materials for use in new components. Not only does this resolve the landfill issue, but it also serves to conserve resources, while returning an economic benefit to society. This paper traces the introduction of tire material recovery at NRI Industries and DaimlerChrysler Corporation (DCC), the development of the infrastructure and materials, and the launch of the Jeep Grand Cherokee thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) radiator seals, comprised of post consumer tire crumb.

The term Masticated Rubber has become synonymous with a mixture of recycled rubber and fiber derived from passenger car tires. Masticated Rubber has been used for over 15 years by a variety of OEMs for air & water management applications in the transportation industry. Its success is a result of being able to offer value-added solutions to recycling car tires and low price/high performance characteristics. The objective of this paper are to provide an update on the advances made in the manufacture of Masticated Rubber compounds, to present data for typical applications and to present data showing the environmental benefits associated with using this material. Not only are fewer passenger car tires being burned for fuel or sent to landfills, but factory greenhouse gas emissions are also reduced (when compared to other rubber manufacturing processes).

Rubber is a difficult material to recycle. Each year millions of pounds of industrial scrap and over 250 million scrap tires are disposed of in North America. New technology for recovering rubber has focused on two areas: grinding rubber to fine particle sizes and activating rubber particles to permit them to be revulcanized into the polymer matrix. These developments have resulted in several new material substitution opportunities. Revulcanized rubber and fine grind rubber can be incorporated into rubber formulations at concentrations in excess of 50%, while still meeting strict customer and quality specifications. New rubber recycling technologies are real and expanding in usefulness. Products not thought possible to include recycled rubber, e.g. exhaust hangers, air ducts or tires, have been brought to market.