Improper disposal of tires is a growing threat to the environment. It not only makes the environment unappealing visually, it also degrades the ecosystem. For this reason, serious action needs to be taken for proper discarding and recycling of car tires.
Breaking Down Tires to Recycle
Tires are made using rubber, a difficult material to burn for recycling and reuse. The rubber undergoes a procedure called vulcanisation. It is this process that gives it its typical flexible, springy practices. The technique of vulcanization is a curing method where sulphur is added to rubber, creating Tougher bonds among rubber polymers. For this reason, car tires need to be sculpted mechanically.
The process begins with robust machines shredding entire car tires into strips. The rubber strips are then set in pulverizing machines, which utilize rotors to further the shredding process while stripping off steel fibers from among the rubber. Some procedures make use of powerful magnets to remove other metals from the rubber substance.
The shreds then end up into granulators once most of the steel and other metals are removed. Depending on the type of consistency required by the consumer industry of the remains of the tires, the rubber is then ground into various sizes of granules, which are used in various consumer industries for different purposes.
Less Popular Methods of Recycling
A less common way used to recycle rubber tubes involves a process of freezing using liquid nitrogen. The rubber is filled when frozen and then ground in a similar procedure as mentioned above.
Pyrolysis is yet another process of recycling tires that is being researched still. The procedures enterprises of melting the rubber substance in an environment that is free of oxygen, preventing toxic fumes. The rubber is decomposed into char, gases and oil during pyrolysis. However, the process is still to be proven commercially realistic.
Uses of Recycled Car Tires
There are several uses of recycled rubber material. Different industries are using these as substitutes to save on money and environment. Here are some of its uses:
• Glass and steel industries use shredded rubber to increase coal fuel source.
• Recycled rubber is used for cushioning in parks, playground, schools and other child-pronone areas. The cushion greatly reduces the effect of impact when a child falls on it.
• Tire shreds are used in landfills instead of dirt to provide protective covering.
• Even the clothing industry uses recycled car tires to provide rubber sole for sport shoes, work shoes, raincoats. It is probable that it will be widely used in making waterproof clothing.
• Larger cities are now replacing conventional sidewalks of concrete will panels made from recycled rubber combined with other substances. They are more resistant to damage by roots from trees as well as being more stable for walkers. They would require much less attention, greatly reducing maintenance costs.
