Characterization of surface characteristics of ground rubber powder for recycling

During the recycling of end of life tyres, the waste tyres are subjected to intense mechanical shredding, grinding etc for size reduction. After removal/separation of steel, nylon tyre cords etc, the resultant product is ground rubber powder of varying particle sizes. Such ground rubber particles have different shape and surface characteristics. During mechanical size reductions, many of the carbon-carbon and carbon-sulphur bonds are also opened up. These ground rubber powders are then used either as a filler in rubber compounding or as a starting material for chemical-thermal devulcanization and depolymerization.  This project will involve extensive experimentation to characterize the particle size distribution and surface morphology. Another objective is to develop treatments to compatibilize these particles so that they form effective monoliths for reuse.