Production of Rubber Goods Made of 100% Ground Tire Rubber

This study shows some results from a recent European Project about tire recycling (SMART “Sustainable Molding of Articles from Recycled Tires”). The aim of the project was producing large rubber products in industrial scale by using ground tire rubber (GTR) without any additive or linking agent. Rubber products are made by “direct molding” of GTR, which is a compression molding process in absence of any raw material. Three different products have been selected to show the feasibility of the new recycling technology: a large-size tile (1 m²) with a thickness between 10 to 20 mm, a puzzle-shape tile with a thickness from 40 to 50 mm, and a kerb. All these products have been successfully molded and results from their testing are reported. In conclusion, an assessment about the production cost for tiles is also proposed.