Australian Science Agency Partnering in Tyre Recycling Project

Australia’s government-run national science agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), reports it is working with Australian tyre recycling technologies company VR TEK Operations on the design and development of a new and improved method of recycling waste rubber for further use in the production of new tyres and a number of other products. The end goal of the project is to produce a devulcansied and activated high quality rubber powder suitable to be used in the manufacture of new rubber products.

According to CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering scientist Barrie Finnin, CSIRO and VR TEK recently succeeded in segmenting a tyre into specific pieces using a cutting mechanism built to VR TEK’s design. “This is a very positive first step in a three-stage process and CSIRO is delighted to be part of a project that is enabling an Australian company to pioneer the commercially and environmentally sustainable recycling of tyres,” said Finnin. “The next two stages will involve devulcanisation and activation of rubber to produce the resultant high quality rubber powders.”

The project’s next two stages are expected to begin shortly, says the CSIRO.