Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Rubber News
  • European Rubber Journal
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • Current Issue
  • BEST PLACES TO WORK
  • News
    • MID YEAR REPORT
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • HUMANITARIAN
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
    • OBITUARIES
    • OPINION
    • SERVICE ZONE
  • ADAS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Custom
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
  • Events
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
  • Resources
    • ADVERTISE
    • AWARDS
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • DIRECTORY
    • SHOP FLOOR
    • Best Places to Work
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
January 21, 2020 09:48 AM

McMaster University chemists claim breakthrough in rubber recycling

European Rubber Journal
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    McMaster University photo

    Michael Brook, lead author and a professor in the department of chemistry and chemical biology at McMaster University, claims the university has made a breakthrough in rubber recycling.

    HAMILTON, Ontario — A team of chemists at Canada's McMaster University has discovered what the university is calling an "innovative way" to break down the rubber used in tires.

    The process — described as "reductive silylation" — could lead to new recycling methods that have so far proved to be expensive, difficult and largely inefficient, McMaster said.

    In a paper published by the journal Green Chemistry, Michael Brook, lead author and a professor in the department of chemistry and chemical biology at McMaster, claims the process efficiently breaks down the polymeric oils by breaking the sulfur-to-sulfur bond in tire rubber.

    "The chemistry of the tire is very complex and does not lend itself to degradation — for good reason. … The properties that make tires so durable and stable on the road also make them exceptionally difficult to break down and recycle," he said.

    Mr. Brook likened the structure to a piece of fishnet.

    "We have found a way to cut all the horizontal lines so instead of having a net, you now have a large number of ropes, which can be isolated and reprocessed much more easily," he explained.

    In a video posted on the McMaster website, Mr. Brook likened the process to "molecular scissors" that can cut through the sulfur bonds.

    In the paper's abstract, the researchers claim the one-step process yielded recovery rates of 56% for "complex" mixtures of rubber crumb from ground tires to 93% for butyl rubber inner tubes.

    The abstract also states the recovered polymeric oils — after the removal of inorganic materials by filtration — were cross-linked to generate new elastomers that could be reinforced with the solids recovered in the initial reduction procedure.

    According to the researchers, the new method could help to eliminate and prevent the major environmental concerns and dangers posed by stockpiled tires.

    While promising, researchers cautioned that the new method had some limitations as it was expensive for industrial applications.

    "We're working on it, but this is the first major step. This process closes the loop on automotive rubber, allowing old tires to be converted into new products," Mr. Brook added.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Goodyear to cut jobs, divest Asia-Pacific locations
    2
    Best-One Tire Group marks 75 years in business
    3
    Canada court rules for Michelin in tire trademark case
    4
    Tire Business ranks the Top 75 Tire Makers of 2023
    5
    Key issues of UAW strike on Ford, GM and Stellantis
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    Reader Services
    • Staff
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • BEST PLACES TO WORK
    • News
      • MID YEAR REPORT
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • HUMANITARIAN
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
      • OBITUARIES
      • OPINION
      • SERVICE ZONE
    • ADAS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Custom
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Events
      • ASK THE EXPERT
      • LIVESTREAMS
      • WEBINARS
      • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
      • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
    • Resources
      • ADVERTISE
      • AWARDS
        • Best Places to Work
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • DIRECTORY
      • SHOP FLOOR
        • BALANCING
        • DEMOUNTING
        • SAFETY
        • TIRE REPAIR
        • TPMS
        • TRAINING
        • VEHICLE LIFTING
        • WHEEL TORQUE
    • DIGITAL EDITION