UK body says rubber crumb can be used in retreads

ERJ staff report (DS)

London -- The UK recycling body, WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) says crumb rubber from waste tyres can be successfully incorporated into retread compounds for road truck and earthmover tyres at much higher inclusion rates than was previously thought.

WRAP says its research indicated that with crumb rubber incorporated at levels of up to 40%, the tyres suffered no reduction in durability or performance when compared to the industry standard. In some cases the new compounds even showed an improvement in performance when compared to the control materials - they cured 20% quicker and proved more durable.

The 14-page study - Using waste tyre rubber in retreads at high inclusion rates - trialled both truck tyres that were fitted to dual-drive axle tipper lorries and earthmover tyres, with a diameter of 1.6 metres, that were fitted to dump trucks. it available for free on the WRAP website (see link below)

Steve Waite, Project Manager for Tyres at WRAP, said: “The UK produces around 130,000 waste tyres every day so testing and developing new outlets for tyre-derived rubber material is a priority for the industry. This study provides reassurance for users that high percentages of rubber crumb can successfully be incorporated into retread compounds for truck and earthmover tyres without compromising the tyres' performance. It is especially encouraging that some of the new compounds produced during this trial have been shown to offer benefits over the original compound. ”

Robin Pegden, Managing Director of Envirogen Technologies Ltd, the company involved with the re-polymerisation technology used in the trial, said: “A green sustainable solution now exists for the tyre industry; Surface Repolymerisation is the breakthrough that the waste tyre industry has always sought. This complete new approach now offers tyre companies a new 'true green' material that has both economic and environmental benefits in its future use.”

This is an external link and should open in a new window. If the window does not appear, please check your pop-up blocking software. ERJ is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Press release from WRAP

Download full report from WRAP