Fractal
Rubber Powder (FRP) is a very
fine rubber powder (below 100µ) which is
produced from discarded car and truck tyres. The
powder retains (in each particle) the original
(fractal) composition of the rubber.
FRP
is unique, not only for its particle size and
composition, but also due to its very large and
varied surface area (morphology).
Because
FRP is produced by Ultra-High
Pressure (UHP) water,
it is possible to seperately produce the tread,
side-wall and interior (butyl) rubber powders.
Since no heat is genreated during the process
(unlike mechanical grinding), there is no deterioration
of mechanical properties due to over-heating.
Because
of its size and morphology, and the ability to
completely seperate tread, side-wall and butyl
rubber, the FRP will be the first
product that can be recycled back into new tyres.
Tests
so far indicate that 20% of FRP
can be added to new tyres without any measurable
deterioration in mechanical properties.
Because
of the unique properties of FRP,
it may have large applications as additives to
polymers, paints and a variety of other products.
FRP
has the capacity to dramatically alter the attitude
to old tyres from being a nuisance and a pollutant,
to a valuable resource!
