One brilliant discovery is often followed by a second! The innovation of rubber vulcanization by Charles Goodyear in 1839 then led to the research and development of the devulcanization process which reclaimed rubber goes through. Rubber waste, that may at one time have been left in a landfill or discarded, can now be used again through this process. The devulcanization process allows for much advancement to be made with eco-friendly rubber. Conserving and reusing old or damaged rubber products allows for new products, such as sheet rubber, belts, shoes, toys, pads, and flooring, to be made.
The devulcanization process begins with crumb rubber, ground rubber fragments the size of sand or silt that is used in rubber or plastic products; which is then subjected to treatment by heat, pressure, or the addition of softening agents to regenerate the rubber compound to its original uncured state. Rubber reclaiming process is really a function of our overburdened tire dumps. Ideally, a devulcanized rubber will be able to substitute as a virgin rubber thereby allowing rubber companies and manufacturers to use the end result, reclaimed rubber, as freely as they do virgin rubber.
X-Derm
X-Derm
- Good for resisting water
- Medium durometer of 55-65, offering more flexibility
- Recycled tire rubber gives this sheet enhanced weather resistance
- Recycled rubber material can function in temperatures as high as 170° F
- Ideal for applications such as indoor and outdoor surfacing, equipment mats, industrial liners, and more
Surface Texture for Traction: This rubber texture sheet comes with a coarse and bumpy surface design that is meant to enhance traction. Traction is very important for any sheet that can be used as a runner or walkway. It enhances the grip and stability for those who are walking on top of the sheet. This eco-friendly rubber runner sheet can help make any commercial or industrial walkway a much safer place.
Eye-Catching Design: In addition to practical purposes, the X-Derm sheet can fulfill an aesthetic purpose as well. The surface texture of this recycled rubber product is meant to give a commercial or industrial area a unique and professional appearance. Surface texture can do a lot for the design and appeal of your business. When this rubber texture sheet is placed as a walkway, people will be put at ease knowing that they are in a place that values not only safety, but impressions as well.
There are many types and variations to the devulcanization process which can change the fundamental properties of the rubber being used. The types of the devulcanization process are broken down into five categories:
Chemical: This consists of organic solvent, oils, chemicals, and inorganic chemicals. Finely ground tire rubber, by using inorganic compounds, is then suitable for the devulcanization process. This process has only been tested on small laboratory examples.
Ultrasonic: This is a very fast, simple, and efficient form of devulcanization that does not include any solvents or chemicals. This process takes about 1 second and leads to the preferred breakage of sulfidic crosslinks in vulcanized rubbers. Ultrasonically-devulcanized rubber is soft which then enables it to be reprocessed, shaped and revulcanized very similarly to virgin rubber. This process has been successfully used in laboratory studies as well as some preliminary test fields.
Recycled Rubber – 60A
Microwave: This process applies heat very quickly and consistently by using a controlled amount of microwave energy to a sulfur-vulcanized elastomer. Rubber waste used in this process must contain enough polar components to be able to accept energy fast enough to produce the amount of heat needed. This method is used as a batch process and can be costly.
Biological: Rubber is typically known to be resistant to normal microbial attacks; however, in some studies with powdered elastomers, a liquid solution with a chemical compound called chemolithiotrope bacterium added would depolymerize the surface. As the polymer chains were broken down they became available to bond in the revulcanization process. There are many concerns regarding this process including toxicity to waste tire rubber and maintaining environmental conditions.
Other: This includes mechanical and steam with/without chemicals (Digester). The mechanical process uses fine rubber crumb and mixes it with different reclaiming oils and is then exposed to high temperatures. The Digester process uses a steam vessel with a paddle for continuous stirring while steam is being applied to the rubber. By the way, www.calrecycle.ca.gov is the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) and is the California State agency that promotes the importance of reducing waste. Perhaps at the forefront of driving America to reuse tires.
The outcome of each of these variations to the devulcanization process, once revulcanization has occurred, is reclaimed rubber. The technological advancements with devulcanization have had a direct effect on the ability of rubber companies and manufacturers to make eco-friendly rubber products. Continued progress is needed to make these reused products as versatile and usable as virgin products, however, progress happens one idea at a time!
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