|
Scrap
Tires | Scrap Tire News | Archived Article
|
Australian
Research Yields New Surface Treatment for Crumb Rubber
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization
(CSIRO) Highett, Victoria Australia has patented a new technology
to chemically modify the surface of crumb rubber molecules to
transform it to a reactive ingredient, according to a recent
announcement from CSIRO.
Tire crumb
treated by the system can combine effectively with rubber or plastics
materials for use in products such as shoe soles, automotive components,
window seals, conveyor belts and even tires, according to the
research announcement.
The technology
has been proven through the development of an ABS (Acrylonitrile
-Butadiene-Stryrene) composite, which uses up to 50 percent crumbed
rubber, the statement added.
The scientific
challenge was to develop a suitable coupling molecule to make
crumbed rubber successfully combine with other materials, which
leads to "significantly enhanced mechanical performance of
the composites," CSIRO research leader Doug Yang Wu said.
The actual
process and surface treatments used are protected by an international
patent with other patents pending, Wu said.
back to archives
