Mechanochemical devulcanization of waste tire rubber in high pressure water jet pulverization

The resource reclamation of waste tire rubber (WTR) is regarded as the most suitable strategy for these solid wastes. Water jet pulverization (WJPul) is a sustainable reclamation technique for WTR, since both size reduction and rubber devulcanization can be achieved. Aiming at understanding the mechanisms related with pulverization and devulcanization of WTR, this work detailed the interactions between WTR and high pressure water jet (HPWJ). The results show that WJPul can be defined as a mechanochemical process for WTR. The compressive shear failure of rubber mainly induces rubber devulcanization and results in fine ground tire rubber (GTR) particles, HPWJ erosion mainly intensifies rubber depolymerization and results in coarse GTR particles. Chemical reactions can be detected between the devulcanized GTR from WJPul and asphalts, thus resulting in better modification performances of GTR from WJPul in asphalt. The results can help better understand the WJPul mechanisms and provide guidelines for WJPul application.