Feasible incorporation of devulcanized rubber waste in virgin natural rubber

Devulcanized rubber waste produced from end-of-life passenger tyres by continuous shear flow stage control reaction technology was used both as filler and as part of rubber in a natural rubber matrix to develop the use of the rubber compound and lower the cost. The measurements of cure characteristics, swelling behaviour, crosslink density and dynamic and mechanical properties were carried out in our laboratory. In the present study it was found that using devulcanized rubber as part of rubber yields much better properties than using it as filler. Up to 15 phr devulcanized rubber used as filler and up to as much as 50 phr devulcanized rubber used as part of rubber can be incorporated in a new product without any noteworthy deterioration in performance arising.