Processing and Material Characteristics of a reclaimed Ground Rubber Tire Reinforced Styrene Butadiene Rubber

Abstract

Mechanochemically partially devulcanized ground rubber tire (GRT) was revulcanized in composition with virgin styrene butadiene rubber (SBR). Reclaiming of GRT was carried out by tetra methyl thiuram disulfide (TMTD) in presence of spindle oil. The cure characteristics and tensile properties of SBR compounds were investigated. Results indicate that the minimum torque and Mooney viscosity of the SBR compounds increase with increasing reclaim rubber (RR) loading whereas the scorch time remain unaltered but optimum cure time exhibit a decreasing trend. Increasing RR loading also gives SBR compounds better resistance towards swelling but the 100% modulus, 200% modulus tensile strength, and the elongation at break increases. Thermogravimetric analysis of SBR/RR vulcanizates was carried out in order to get thermal stability of the vulcanizates. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies further indicate the coherency and homogeneity in the SBR/RR vulcanizates.