Government Boosts Reuse of Scrap Tire Rubber

By Xiao Yan

With the rapid development of the automobile industry, the amount of scrap tires generated in China each year has seen double-digit growth in recent years.
   Radial tires will constitute 90-92% of the scrap tires in China during 2011-2015. To suit the product structure change of scrap tires and effectively use the maximum residual value of scrap radial tire rubber, we must strengthen independent innovation and optimize product structure.
   According to the development program for the scrap rubber comprehensive utilization sector of China during 2011-2015, the sector will still adhere to the scrap rubber comprehensive utilization mode with Chinese characteristics during that period. Reclaimed rubber will be taken as the priority and tire retreading and rubber powder will also be developed at the same time. Efforts will be made to control overheated capacity expansion and maintain stable growth at an average annual rate of 10%. By the end of the 2011-2015 period, the comprehensive utilization of scrap rubber will reach 85%, the capacity to reclaim rubber will reach 4.18 million t/a, the capacity to make rubber powder from scrap will reach 500 000 t/a and the capacity to retread tires will reach 22 million pcs/a.

Focuses of improving scrap rubber utilization during 2011-2015

(a) Optimize tire retreading processes. (b) Use the advantages of related disciplines to develop new-generation reclaiming activators and reclaiming softeners with no offensive odor and no migration pollution. (c) Expand the scale of special classes of reclaimed tire rubber. By the end of 2015 the capacity for reclaiming special-class tire rubber will reach 500 000 t/a and the proportion of the total rubber reclamation capacity will be 15%. (d) Make rational use of scrap semi-steel radial tire resources to produce reclaimed rubber and vulcanized rubber powder for modified asphalt highway pavement. The capacity will reach 800 000 t/a and 450 000 t/a, respectively. (f) Stabilize the production of reclaimed butyl rubber. Expand the capacity to reclaim synthetic rubbers such as EPDM rubber (ethylene propylene diene monomer), chloroprene rubber, SBR, fluorine rubber and silicone rubber. The capacity to reclaim synthetic rubbers will reach 850 000 t/a at the end of 2015, and the proportion of the total reclaimed rubber capacity will increase from 8% in 2011to 20% in 2015.
   To attain these goals, the entire sector will accelerate the R&D and application of technologies and equipment such as reclaiming activators for odorless tires with high revived rubber, reclaiming activators for special reclaimed synthetic rubbers, high-temperature low-pressure reclaiming processes and equipment, complex reclaiming processes and equipment, scrap rubber reclaiming processes, high-effect energy-saving equipment, vulcanized rubber powder, environment-friendly purifying equipment for reclaiming processes and module control.

Policies and measures

(1) Optimize rubber raw material structure

(a) Reduce the proportion of fossil energy in raw materials and support policies of the government for expanding the planting area of natural rubber, improving the quality and increasing the output of natural rubber, developing the production of natural rubber overseas and promoting the development of new rubber strategies such as the use of gutta percha.

(b) Speed up the development and application of environment-friendly rubbers and assistants such as synthetic rubbers like high-vinyl polybutadiene rubber and trans-isoprene rubber with low rolling resistance and assistants like filler fluid.

(c) Use silica to replace carbon black in tires to reduce rolling resistance and fuel consumption.

(d) Expand the use of easily-recoverable polymers such as thermoplastic elastomers and resins to increase the recycling rate of scrap rubber products.

(f) Use high-strength skeleton materials such as aromatic fiber and carbon fiber to reduce product weight and energy consumption.

(2) Adjust growth mode structure

(a) Highlight the transformation of growth mode and the readjustment of industrial structure, accelerate the elimination of outdated capacity and support the construction of energy-saving, environment-friendly, safe, intelligent and branded tire units.
(b) Limit the increasing export of products with low added value and high energy consumption. Fully use the comparative advantages of traditional labor-intensive sectors and adopt measures to optimize industrial structure and upgrade technology to boost the export of tires with high added value.

(3) Disseminate energy-saving equipment and technologies and strengthen process management
(a) Disseminate the application of energy-saving equipment and technologies such as the low-temperature continuous mixing technology and the nitrogen-filled high-temperature vulcanizing process to reduce energy consumption in the production of rubber products. Develop fully automatic tire production lines and technologies to greatly enhance productivity, reduce energy consumption and improve product quality. Formulate energy consumption standards in sectors such as the tire sector as soon as possible.

(b) Tire retreading is the most ideal method for the use of scrap tires. Through many years of effort by China’s tire manufacturers, product quality has reached the international level. However China still has problems in its use of tires. The major problem is the low rate of tire retreading, which is due to the large proportion of scrap tires that are not qualified because of vehicle overloading and drivers’ inadequate attention to tire abrasion. Tire retreading cannot be further developed without improvements throughout the tire industry, particularly in tire quality. The technical level of the retreading sector itself also needs upgrading.

(c) Design complete charging and compensation mechanisms. Push the recycling of scrap tires onto a track of market-geared development under the guidance of the government.

(d) Improve related laws and regulations. Prohibit the wanton discarding and disposal of tires. Let producers pay the cost of recycling. Construct more and larger centralized disposal yards to provide places for rubber recycling.