Walt Decherd Tire Recycling Methods
Common Tire Recycling Methods
Walt Decherd Tire Recycling Methods By Jared Kugel
When old tires are worn down or damaged to the point where they are no longer usable, there are a few different options to choose from when it comes to recycling them responsibly. Almost 290 million tires are scrapped each year, and the same characteristics which make them great for road durability also make them an environmental concern.
Because tires are relatively large and don’t break down quickly, many landfills refuse to accept them. In addition to wasting space in the junk heap, they can also trap methane gases that may damage the lining of the landfill, which is designed to prevent toxins from seeping into the water and soil. Because it’s not very easy to simply throw tires away, the market for scrap tires is growing. Scrap tires are used to create rubber filler for a variety of products, or they may be reused to make basketball courts or shoes.
One method of turning scrap tires into recycled rubber for use in new products is ultrasound recycling. In this process, high-powered ultrasound is applied in combination with heat and high pressure. These forces break the bonds in the tires and form a rubber gum that can be cured and re-molded.
Another tire recycling method is tire pyrolysis. This innovative technique involves heating the tires in an oxygen-free environment, which causes them to melt down into their original compounds. Metal, carbon, heavy oils, benzene, kerosene and diesel are some of the byproducts of this process. Different byproducts result from different temperatures used in the pyrolitic process.
Apart from recycling, there are also many ways to turn scrap tires into reusable substrates for a variety of projects and products. Rubber Modified Concrete and Rubber Modified Asphalt are two popular products which are made with reused scrap tires. Other products such as rubber mulch, movable speed bumps, patio decks, and flooring materials can be made from reused tire rubber.