Properties of Rubber Materials Containing Recycled Microbially Devulcanized Cryo-Ground Tire Rubber

Abstract

Cryo-ground tire rubber was treated with the sulfur oxidizing bacterium Thiobacillus ferrooxidans in order to devulcanize the surface of the ground particles. The devulcanized rubber (15% (w/w)) was mixed with carbon black filled natural rubber, and subsequently vulcanized. The physical properties of the resulting material were examined. This study shows that the stress relaxation properties are improved due to the microbial treatment. The stress at break and swelling properties are also positively affected by this process.