In Russia, a technology for waste-free recycling of tires has been created

In RTU MIREA, a technology for recycling tires has been developed and patented, in which waste is converted into a curable resin suitable for use in various products, reports TASS, citing the university's press service.

The university reports that "the development has the prospect of wide practical application". "The resins obtained after curing have high mechanical characteristics, such as strength and hardness, which allows them to be used in the production of composite materials, building elements and other products. Thus, what was previously sent to the landfill can now become raw materials for new products," the university said.

The tire recycling methods currently in use involve crushing them into crumb, which is used in the production of coatings, etc., but this process generates waste polyethylene cord. The scientists' proposal is to use 100% of the tire composition as raw material for obtaining curable resin.

According to the university, "both rubber and polyethylene are recycled in one reactor. The technical carbon released during this process acts as a stabilizer, preventing premature curing of the resin. This property allows us to completely abandon the use of additional chemical stabilizers".

Alexander Gerval'd, associate professor of the department of chemistry and technology of high molecular weight compounds named after S.S. Medvedev of RTU MIREA, noted that the material obtained by the new method has improved mechanical properties due to the presence of rubber in the polymer structure.

Photo: Continental