Process and Machine for Releasing Curve Memory in a Reclaimed Tire Strip

A process for producing a flattened strip of construction material comprising the steps of:

• receiving, by a machine, a harvested tread from a tire comprising a strip of flexible material having a radial curvature memory in a first direction, and having a length, a width, a thickness, a top surface and a bottom surface;
• perforating, by a machine, the strip of flexible material to produce a plurality of crosswise plunge cuts into the flexible material from at least a first surface, wherein each crosswise cut each extends laterally across the width of the strip of flexible material, and wherein a depth of each crosswise cut is less than the thickness of the strip of flexible material;
• and
• bending, by a machine, the perforated strip of flexible material in a first curvature, wherein the first curvature produces a convex shape on the first surface, wherein the bending is along a longitudinal direction of the strip of flexible material, and wherein a force applied to the strip to achieve the bending is sufficient to break some of the flexible material contributing to the radial curvature memory.