Natural rubber is produced from the latex found in certain plants. It can also be manufactured synthetically through a process that employs unsaturated hydrocarbons. Natural rubber is a polymer that is resilient, water-proof and highly elastic. Rubber is also impermeable, water-repellent, and easily mouldable. It can be easily adjusted across different harness levels and can be compounded to meet any mechanical requirement.
Rubber is widely prevalent in many parts of the world and every year millions of tires are discarded. This extreme prevalence has paved way for rubber recycling. Recycling rubber keeps a huge amount of the material away from landfills. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S, there is a market demand for nearly eighty percent of scrap tires.
The Importance
Rubber is a slow- biodegradable substance, meaning it builds up quickly in landfills due to the excess of discarded rubber products such as tires. Tire fires in landfills have caused significant pollution and safety hazard in the past. Hence keeping rubber away from landfills protects human health and the environment as a whole.
There are a number of advantages of recycling rubber, to the environment and the manufacturer as well. Reclaimed and recycled rubber consumes less energy for production, in comparison with new rubber. In addition to that, recycling rubber eases out the demand for new natural rubber, which is the primary reason that is causing rubber tree plantations from expanding into the sensitive tropical ecosystems.
The Process
Rubber is usually recycled using one of three basic methods. First, incinerating tires creates energy that can be used to manufacture electricity, processes or other purposes. Second, rubber can be broken down to form an entirely new product, such as sheets, playground surfacing, toys etc. Third and the most common, rubber is refurbished. For instance, old tires are retreaded to produce functional refurbished tires.
Areas of Application
Rubber is a unique material and its physical properties, flexibility, and manufacturing-friendliness is leveraged across a number of areas of application. Rubber can be formed into a wide array of different products such as shoes, industrial products, tubes, equipment parts, sealing and hosing products, tubes and pipes etc. Rubber granules are incorporated into asphalt and used to create road surfaces. Rubber is broken down into shavings and used as mulch for playgrounds and gardens.
The Challenges
Rubber is a material that is known for its unique characteristics in the industry. During recycling, maintaining the properties of rubber can pose a challenge. A number of effective solutions have been developed to handle these challenges however. When synthetic rubber is produced or when natural rubber is formed into workable rubber through a process called vulcanization, the material undergoes a change in its chemical structure that increases its elasticity. During devulcanization, the bonds formed during the vulcanization process is broken down, allowing the rubber to be reused and remoulded for other applications. Devulcanization is usually carried out using a number of chemical processes that involve high heat and some toxic chemicals. Scientists are continuing to research alternatives and methods to recycle rubber through an environmentally sound process.
