Management of ground tire rubber waste by incorporation into polyurethane-based composite foams

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 31; no. 12; pp. 17591 - 17616
• Main Authors: Hejna, Aleksander, Kosmela, Paulina, Olszewski, Adam, Zedler, Łukasz, Formela, Krzysztof, Skórczewska, Katarzyna, Piasecki, Adam, Marć, Mariusz, Barczewski, Roman, Barczewski, Mateusz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.03.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acoustic insulation; Acoustic properties; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Barrels (extruders); Cellular structure; Composite materials; Dynamic stability; Earth and Environmental Science; Economic development; Economic growth; Ecotoxicology; Emissions; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental impact; Fillers; Foams; Industrial development; Mechanical properties; Organic compounds; Parameter modification; Plastic foam; Polyurethane; Polyurethane foam; Rubber; Shear forces; Shredding; Sustainable Waste Management & Circular Economy; Termites; Thermal insulation; Thermal stability; Thermomechanical treatment; Tires; Twin screw extruders; Utilization; VOCs; Volatile organic compounds; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Zinc borate; Volatile organic compounds; Gas chromatography; Composites; Polyurethane foams; Filler modification; Ground tire rubber; Zinc borate; Emissions
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25387-w

Rapid economic growth implicated the developing multiple industry sectors, including the automotive branch, increasing waste generation since recycling and utilization methods have not been established simultaneously. A very severe threat is the generation of enormous amounts of post-consumer tires considered burdensome waste, e.g., due to the substantial emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Therefore, it is essential to develop novel, environmentally friendly methods for their utilization, which would hinder their environmental impacts. One of the most promising approaches is shredding, resulting in the generation of ground tire rubber (GTR), which can be introduced into polymeric materials as filler. The presented work is related to the thermomechanical treatment of GTR in a twin-screw extruder with zinc borate, whose incorporation is aimed to enhance shear forces within the extruder barrel. Modified GTR was introduced into flexible polyurethane (PU) foams, and the impact of modification parameters on the cellular structure, static and dynamic mechanical performance, thermal stability, as well as thermal insulation, and acoustic properties was investigated. Emissions of VOCs from applied fillers and prepared composites were monitored and evaluated. Depending on the treatment parameters, beneficial changes in foams’ cellular structure were noted, which enhanced their thermal insulation performance, mechanical strength, and thermal stability. It was proven that the proposed method of GTR thermomechanical treatment assisted by zinc borate particles might benefit the performance of flexible PU foamed composites and hinder VOC emissions, which could broaden the application range of GTR and provide novel ways for its efficient utilization.