The trial is being funded by the Waste and Resources Action Programme as part of a series of projects investigating the properties and potential applications of new products made from used tyre waste.
” This technology could significantly enhance the value and the performance of recycled rubber in retread compounds and allow higher volumes to be used in future “
– Paul Mathers, Rubber Recovery
Rubber Recovery Ltd is investigating the production of a retread compound with significant recycled content.
Using technology from abroad, the company will be developing a process that adds specially formulated polymers to the recycled rubber crumb. According to the company this will allow it to become chemically reactive with virgin compounds. The retread compound will be used on truck and earthmover tyres.
Rubber Recovery's director Paul Mathers said: “This technology could significantly enhance the value and the performance of recycled rubber in retread compounds and allow higher volumes to be used in future.”
WRAP is funding a second project looking into recycled tyres in retreads, using a different technology, at Crumb Rubber Ltd in Devon.
The company is producing an ultra fine powder which is expected to show improved interactivity with virgin rubber blends. This could lead to a higher inclusion rate of reprocessed tyres in virgin rubber blends.
David Young, managing director of Crumb Rubber, said: “This project will now test under commercial conditions, the performance of different levels of recycled powder in retread compounds.
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“Once we have established the most promising blends, we will be testing them on a local fleet of delivery trucks,” he added.
Other areas currently trialling reprocessed tyres under the WRAP scheme include the construction industry and road surfacing.
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