Methods of recycling of pneumatic and non-pneumatic tires

Abstract

Paper discusses main reasons for the necessity of tires utilization. The tire is considered as a complex composite part which should satisfy the requirements for resistance to repeating and variable loads and the damaging effects of the environment, etc .; these properties make it difficult to recycle tires; to solve the problem an average composition of the tire is provided. Differences in the treatment of worn tires in different countries and ways of utilization of pneumatic and non-pneumatic tires are shown; variants for cold and hot recovery tires are provided; the economic effect of tire recovery comparing with tire replacement is shown; methods of processing used tires with the destruction of the rubber component that causes polymer degradation and without destruction of the rubber component are provided. The percentage of use of retreaded tires in the total amount of tires purchased in some countries is given. The analysis of options for further processing of tires as processing tires into rubber crumb and its further use was made. The general structural features of the tire without air (non-pneumatic) - “spoke” and “cellular” are described. A comparison of methods for utilization of pneumatic and non-pneumatic tires in terms of structure and the tire material was made. The generalized classification of methods of disposal of polyurethane materials is proposed; environmental issues of tires recycling are shown. The reasons to simplify recycling of pneumatic tires comparing to non-pneumatic (airless) tires are provided. The possibility of using biodegradability as one of the most economically and environmentally effective ways of recycling materials for non-pneumatic (airless) tires, namely polyurethane products was discussed.