Copyright RubberWorld
by Ben Chouchaoui, Windsor Industrial Development Laboratory. Devulcanization methods such as chemical, mechanical, irradiation, biological and combinations are reviewed, and additional steps are presented to turn post-consumer goods, like end-of-life tires, into engineering materials and products. Traditionally, one of the biggest issues facing the automotive and transportation ecosystem has been what to do with scrap tires. When no longer suitable for use on vehicles because of wear or irreparable damage, used tires can become a huge health and ecological problem. There have certainly been major strides in developing sustainable practices for the disposal and treatment of scrap tires. Still, some of these are not always evident. Besides, with new developments in technology and recycling practices continuing to emerge, a sustainable solution for retiring tires continues to be a moving target.
