New applications of tire powder recycled by micro-waves

Abstract

In order to minimize impacts caused to environment and to save natural resources, especially from non-renewable sources, recycling of polymeric materials has been object of study. In this scenery, are included elastomeric materials, such as rubber, especially used in tires manufacturing, considering that pneumatic industry consumes around 60% of rubber production. Taking into account that final tires destination is a requirement based on norms and national and international laws, this work aims to the development of a study on the efficacy of micro-wave irradiation in the process of de-vulcanization of tire powder to be used in recycling. Tire powder was subjected to micro-wave irradiation and further merged to SBR (butadiene-styrene rubber) polymeric matrix, at 5, 15, 25 phr; after mixture, resulting compound was characterized for evaluation of physico-chemical and mechanical properties. For the assessment of all samples containing SBR and rubber powder there were applied following essays: Infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), Tensile strength and elongation at break, Swelling Index. It was verified higher values for mechanical properties imparted by an increased quantity of rubber powder incorporated to SBR matrix.