Reclaiming Waste Rubber for a Green Environment

Abstract

Waste rubber composes a burden on the environment. Consumed rubber does not degrade easily, and disposing of this waste is not a facile process. Worn out tire rubber forms a considerable section of the urban waste materials. It is able to be ground and known as ground tire rubber (GTR). It is favored to be devulcanized before being blended with organic or inorganic materials. (GTR) is able to constitute compatible blends or composites with polymers that possess appropriate mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties. Devulcanization process of waste rubber takes place by means of mechanical, mechano-chemical, or thermal treatment. Moreover, induced irradiation such as gamma or ultraviolet and accelerated electrons radiation(s) can assist in devulcanizing waste rubber by breaking the bonds which arose previously during the vulcanization process. Radiation is able to modify waste rubber by grafting its surface for an enhanced interfacial adhesion between it and the blended plastic or rubber. Loading GTR as a filler in composites contributes to lowering the cost of the resulting materials. In addition, modifying GTR can improve the performance of the composites in which they contribute. In this review, we aim to employ reclaimed waste rubber for a greener environment with better waste management procedures.