Inter-penetrating elastomer network derived from ground tire rubber particles
OwnerWilliam B. Coeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Crumb rubber obtained from recycled tires is subjected to an interlinked substitution process. The process utilizes a reactive component that interferes with sulfur bonds. The resulting treated rubber exhibits properties similar to those of the virgin composite rubber structure prior to being granulated, and is suitable for use in fabricating new tires, engineered rubber articles, and asphalt rubber for use in waterproofing and paving applications.
Claims19
A polymeric matrix comprising a crosslinked network of end-of-life tire-derived rubber and at least one auxiliary polymer, wherein a reactive moiety of the auxiliary polymer is reacted with a polyaromatic hydrocarbon so as to form a chemical bond, whereby the polymeric matrix sequesters the polyaromatic hydrocarbon.
A method for preparing a polymeric matrix, comprising:
- combining vulcanized rubber particles, an auxiliary polymer comprising a reactive moiety, and an organometallic compound into a mixture, so as to induce delamination of a rubber matrix within the vulcanized rubber particles as coordinated with disrupting sulfidic linkages, so as to induce crosslinking of the auxiliary polymer into the polymeric matrix, and so as to induce a chemical reaction between the reactive moiety and a polyaromatic hydrocarbon, whereby the polymeric matrix sequesters the polyaromatic hydrocarbon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.