Ground Tire Rubber Crosslink Realignment for Virgin-Like Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for devulcanizing vulcanized rubber, such as tire rubber, have not successfully transformed it into a commercially viable product with properties similar to virgin composite rubber.
Innovation Solution
An interlinked substitution method is employed, involving an aqueous chemical solution and an electromagnetic-mechanical system to dissociate sulfur bridges and realign crosslinks in vulcanized rubber particles, transforming them into a form suitable for reuse in manufacturing new tires and other rubber products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional devulcanization methods are used on vulcanized rubber, then the rubber can be processed, but the resulting product does not achieve properties similar to virgin rubber
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical environment through aqueous chemical solutions and controlling electromagnetic-mechanical parameters to achieve proper dissociation of sulfur bridges. This transforms the rubber structure to regain properties similar to virgin rubber, resolving the contradiction between product quality and manufacturability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical devulcanization methods with an electromagnetic-mechanical system that uses electromagnetic fields combined with mechanical action. This substitution enables more effective breakdown of vulcanized rubber structure while achieving commercially viable product quality.
2Manufacturing precision
If sulfur bridges are dissociated using chemical solutions, then crosslinks can be realigned, but the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses aqueous chemical solutions as intermediaries to facilitate the dissociation of sulfur bridges. These chemical mediators enable controlled breakdown and realignment of crosslinks without requiring overly complex equipment, thus achieving manufacturing precision while managing process complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the sulfur bridges from the rubber matrix through chemical dissolution, separating the crosslinking components to enable realignment. This extraction approach simplifies the overall process by removing the need for complex in-situ modification systems.
3Loss of substance
If ground tire rubber is transformed into reusable form, then waste reduction is achieved, but the transformation process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies discarding and recovering by taking end-of-life tire rubber that would otherwise be discarded and transforming it into a reusable form with properties similar to virgin rubber. The electromagnetic-mechanical system combined with chemical treatment enables this recovery process to achieve both waste reduction and commercial viability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite approaches by combining aqueous chemical solutions with electromagnetic-mechanical treatment in a integrated process system. This composite methodology achieves effective transformation of ground tire rubber while managing process complexity through the synergistic combination of chemical and physical treatment modes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method effectively recovers and transforms vulcanized rubber into a high-quality, commercially viable product with properties comparable to virgin rubber, addressing the challenge of reusing end-of-life tire rubber.
Implementation Method 1
introducing an aqueous slurry comprising vulcanized rubber particles and an organometallic compound into an electromechanical reactor configured to generate a phase space environment with cavitation, so as to induce delamination of a rubber matrix within the vulcanized rubber particles as coordinated with disrupting sulfidic linkages
Data Source
AI summary
Crumb rubber obtained from recycled tires is subjected to an interlinked substitution process. The process utilizes a reactive component that interferes with sulfur bonds. The resulting treated rubber exhibits properties similar to those of the virgin composite rubber structure prior to being granulated, and is suitable for use in fabricating new tires, engineered rubber articles, and asphalt rubber for use in waterproofing and paving applications.