End-of-life tires present a significant materials recovery challenge, with over 1 billion waste tires generated annually worldwide. Current recycling methods recover only 20-30% of tire materials effectively, while traditional thermal treatments often produce low-grade carbon black with high ash content (>15%) and contaminated oil fractions that limit reuse potential.

The fundamental challenge lies in developing processes that can break down the complex cross-linked polymer networks and separate components while preserving their material value for circular use.

This page brings together solutions from recent research—including continuous thermal cracking systems for whole tires, microwave-assisted pyrolysis techniques, specialized reactor designs with selective heating zones, and mechanical-chemical hybrid approaches. These and other methods focus on achieving higher quality recoverable materials while maintaining economic viability at industrial scale.

1. Thermoplastic Rubber Composition with Polyester Matrix and Dispersed Crosslinked Rubber Particles

LCY CHEMICAL CORP, 2025

A thermoplastic rubber composition and vulcanizate material that can replace thermoset rubber in applications like tires, belts, and hoses. The composition contains a low melting point polyester, a crosslinkable rubber, and a crosslinking agent. The vulcanizate has a continuous phase of polyester and a dispersed phase of crosslinked rubber. The polyester provides abrasion resistance and the crosslinked rubber slip resistance. The composition can be molded into articles like tires and belts without the need for curing. The crosslinked rubber particles disperse in the polyester matrix. This allows recycling the thermoplastic vulcanizate by grinding and reusing in new articles.

2. Vulcanizing Agent with α-Olefin Double Bonds for Reversible Diels-Alder Crosslinking

DALIAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, 2025

A vulcanizing agent for rubber that allows reversible crosslinking and recycling. The agent has a structure with α-olefin double bonds that can undergo reversible Diels-Alder cycloaddition reactions at high and low temperatures. At high temperatures, the cycloaddition breaks the crosslinks. At lower temperatures, the crosslinks reform. This allows the rubber to be repeatedly vulcanized and de-vulcanized without chain scission. The reversible crosslinking enables recycling of crosslinked polymers like vulcanized rubber.

3. Recycled Carbon Black with Modified Surface Condition and Specific Structural Characteristics

TOKAI CARBON CO LTD, 2025

Recycled carbon black with improved properties for reinforcing rubber products. The recycled carbon black has a modified surface condition with specific characteristics that enhance bonding with rubber components. The modifications involve oxidative decomposition of rubber residuals on the carbon black surface followed by filling pores with carbide. This removes rubber carbide adhering to the carbon black and exposes the surface for better rubber bonding. The modified carbon black has a nitrogen surface area of 50-250 m2/g, a Raman peak intensity ratio of 1580/1350 cm-1 of 84-111, and fewer defects compared to unmodified recycled carbon black.

4. Method for Co-Vulcanization of Recycled Rubber Using Diffusion Barrier Material

APPIA, LLC, 2024

Method for recycling vulcanized rubber to increase performance and allow higher recycled rubber content compared to prior methods. The key is using a barrier material to prevent sulfur and cure accelerators from the fresh rubber diffusing into the recycled rubber during co-vulcanization. This prevents additional crosslinking in the recycled rubber and improves bonding between the two types of rubber. The barrier material forms a diffusion barrier around the ground recycled rubber particles in the fresh rubber matrix during vulcanization.

5. System for Sequential Separation and Extraction of Steel Cords from Tires

JIANGSU LONGTENG CHENGKUANG INTELLIGENT ENVIRONMENTAL PROT EQUIPMENT CO LTD, JIANGSU LONGTENG CHENGKUANG INTELLIGENT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT CO LTD, 2024

Waste tire processing system that extracts steel cords from tires in a more efficient and recyclable way compared to whole tire crushing. The system involves a series of machines to separate the rubber and steel components. The process involves washing tires, drying them, heating and flattening them, cutting them, pulling the steel wires, and grinding the rubber. This allows separating and recycling the steel cords separately from the rubber.

6. Integrated Tire Pulverizer with Simultaneous Multi-Surface Cutting and Vacuum Collection Mechanism

CHEN ZICAI, 2024

A simplified and efficient method for converting waste tires into rubber powder using a single machine. The method involves cutting, grinding, and separating the tire components in one process. A specialized tire pulverizer replaces the multiple machines and steps typically required. The pulverizer has tools that can simultaneously cut the tire top, sidewall, and inner surface at high speeds. The cut rubber is collected by vacuum instead of open grinding. This compact, integrated process reduces equipment, energy, and environmental issues compared to traditional tire powder production.

CN117621309A-patent-drawing

7. Tire Recycling Process Incorporating Low-Temperature Freezing and Sequential Crushing for Material Separation

DAVID MAX SHIN, 2024

Method for pollution-free recycling of used tires without generating pollution or odor. The process involves shredding tires, spraying them with water, freezing the shreds, crushing the frozen pieces, separating metal fibers, re-crushing, and screening. The freezing step is done at very low temperatures to prevent decomposition and odor generation. It allows clean recycling of tires without using high temperatures and chemicals that cause pollution.

8. Continuous Thermal Cracking System with Preheating Tank and Sealed Reactor for Whole Tires

Qingdao Ikeda Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd., QINGDAO YIKESIDA INTELLIGENT EQUIPMENT CO LTD, 2023

A continuous thermal cracking system and method for whole tires of waste tires that allows recycling of whole tires without the need for crushing them into blocks first. The system uses a preheating tank, thermal cracking reactor, and condensing system connected in a ring. The preheating tank has front and rear sections filled with water and oil respectively to heat the tires. The reactor has a sealing screw, front bin, internal kettle, and hot air heater. The condensing system separates heavy and light oil. The sealed preheating and reactor sections prevent volatile oil escape. The hot air heater preheats the kettle. This allows fully cracking the whole tires without crushing.

CN109628120B-patent-drawing

9. Waste Rubber Recycling Machine with Rotor-Based Grinding and Demagnetization Chambers

MIANYANG RUIYANG NEW MATERIAL TECH DEVELOPMENT CO LTD, MIANYANG RUIYANG NEW MATERIAL TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO LTD, 2023

Recycling method for waste rubber using a specialized machine that reduces pollution compared to traditional chemical regeneration methods. The machine has a mixing chamber with rotors that grind the rubber block. It also has a demagnetization chamber to remove magnetic impurities from the ground rubber. The machine uses motors and augers to move the rubber through the stages.

CN116408902A-patent-drawing

10. Devulcanization of Vulcanized Rubber Using Twin-Screw Extruder with Upper Barrel Regenerative Agent Feed

CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH, 2023

Method for devulcanizing vulcanized rubber to recycle old tires and improve properties of rubber articles. The method involves using a twin-screw extruder with a regenerative agent feed point in the upper half of the barrel. The extruder devulcanizes the rubber at temperatures around 100-150°C. This breaks the sulfur bonds without shortening the polymer chains. The devulcanized rubber can be further processed into new rubber mixtures with better properties compared to using fully devulcanized rubber. The extruder configuration with regenerative agent feed allows efficient devulcanization without chain scission.

CN115702195A-patent-drawing

11. Ozone and Decrosslinking Agent-Based Process for Solvent-Mediated Decrosslinking of Vulcanized Elastomers

BERNARDO BARRETO ALVAREZ, LEONARDO CAMPOS RODOMONTE DE SOUZA, LUIZ FELIPE RODOMONTE DE SOUZA, 2022

Chemically recycling vulcanized elastomers like rubber without high temperatures or solvents. The process involves using ozone and decrosslinking agents like peroxides or persulfates in solvent to dissolve and decrosslink the rubber waste. The solvent swells the polymer chains and the decrosslinking agents break the bonds. Ozone then attacks the decrosslinked chains. This allows recycling vulcanized rubber without degradation or special equipment. The recycled elastomer can replace virgin rubber in new products.

BR102021025716B1-patent-drawing

12. Method for Producing Ultra-Fine Rubber Powder from Waste Tires Through Sequential Cutting, Soaking, Crushing, Fiber Separation, and Desulfurization

HEILONGJIANG INST TECH, HEILONGJIANG INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, 2022

A method for recycling waste tires into ultra-fine rubber powder that fully utilizes the renewable resources in waste tires. The method involves cutting the tires into rings, strips, and blocks, soaking the blocks in water to soften them, crushing them to a fine powder, cleaning, separating fibers, desulfurizing, and cooling the powder. This optimized process allows making high-quality ultra-fine rubber powder from waste tires.

CN115107197A-patent-drawing

13. Waste Tire Pulverization System with Sequential Crushing, Washing, Freezing, and Grinding Stages

ZHUHAI QIANDING TECH CO LTD, ZHUHAI QIANDING TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, 2022

A waste tire pulverization and rubber powder recovery system that efficiently and cleanly recycles waste tires into usable rubber powder. The system involves a series of crushing, washing, freezing, and grinding stages to progressively reduce the tire into powder. This allows recovery of the rubber without generating pollutants like dioxins. The stages include: 1. Primary normal temperature crushing to break the tires into fragments 2. Fragment washing to clean the pieces 3. Secondary normal temperature crushing to further break the fragments into smaller pieces 4. Primary freezing and grinding to freeze and grind the smaller pieces into powder 5. Secondary freezing and grinding to further grind the powder into finer powder The freezing stages enable cleaner grinding and powder separation. The system also uses liquid nitrogen in the primary grinding stage to further improve powder quality.

CN114986748A-patent-drawing

14. Modular Mobile Tire Recycling System with Induction-Based Bead Wire Separation

LAATUINSINOEOERIT OY, LAATUINSINÖÖRIT OY, 2022

Mobile tire recycling system that can be transported to sites for processing tires. The system involves a modular setup with separate modules for removing bead wires, cutting rubber sides, and further processing. The bead wire removal uses induction heating to separate the wires from the rubber. The tire is heated to break the bond, cooled, and then the wires are mechanically or magnetically separated. This allows recycling the metal wires separately from the rubber. The cut rubber sides are further processed into recyclable granules. The modular setup allows transporting the components to a site and assembling the recycling system there.

FI20206318A1-patent-drawing

15. Multi-Stage Tire Recycling System with Coarse Pulverization and Magnetic Separation for Rubber Extraction

COMMON SANXIN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION RESOURCE SCIENCE AND TECH UTILIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT LTD, COMMON SANXIN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION RESOURCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT LIMITED CO, 2022

An environmentally friendly system for recycling waste tires into rubber. The system involves multi-stage grinding and separation to efficiently extract pure rubber from the tires. It has coarse pulverization, magnetic separation, and fine pulverization stages. The coarse pulverizing structure breaks the tires into larger pieces. The magnetic separation separates the pieces into pure rubber and iron-bearing rubber. The pure rubber goes to fine pulverization, while the iron-bearing rubber is magnetically separated again to improve purity. This allows fast, efficient, and high-quality recycling of tires into pure rubber.

CN216732545U-patent-drawing

16. Recycling Method for Converting Waste Tires into Rubber Powder with Additive Processing

JIANGSU GOUDIFF NEW MATERIAL TECH CO LTD, JIANGSU GOUDIFF NEW MATERIAL TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, 2022

Method for recycling waste tires into reusable rubber materials. The method involves grinding the waste tires into granular rubber, then sieving and conveying the granules to further grind them into powder. The powder is then processed with additives like carbon black, cross-linking agent, wax, and antioxidant to make a usable rubber compound. The compound is formed by kneading, cooling, and vulcanization.

17. Automated System for Dismantling and Separating Tire Components Using Integrated Machinery

Jiangsu Huahong Technology Co., Ltd., JIANGSU HUAHONG TECHNOLOGY STOCK CO LTD, 2022

Automatic processing system for recycling waste tires that can fully automate dismantling and separating the tire components for recycling. The system uses a series of connected machines like storage, bead wire separators, crown cutters, shredders, wire grinders, and wire sorting machines to automatically process and separate the tire into its components for recycling. This improves efficiency and consistency compared to manual dismantling.

18. Recycled Rubber Production System with Multi-Stage Grinding and Magnetic Separation

COMMON SANXIN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION RESOURCE SCIENCE AND TECH UTILIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT LTD, COMMON SANXIN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION RESOURCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT LIMITED CO, 2022

Environmentally friendly recycled rubber production system and method that improves efficiency and purity of recycling waste tires into rubber. The system involves a multi-stage process with separate grinding and magnetic separation steps. Coarse pulverization of tires is followed by magnetic separation to divide into pure rubber particles and iron-bearing rubber particles. Pure rubber particles are further finely ground, while iron-bearing rubber particles are magnetically separated again to ensure purity. This staged processing improves recycling speed and purity compared to direct grinding of whole tires.

19. Multi-Stage Tire Crushing System with Transverse Feeder and Surfactant Mixing Apparatus

HEBEI FOCEAN POLYMER TECH CO LTD, HEBEI FOCEAN POLYMER TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, 2022

Efficient and quick tire recycling system that crushes tires into fine powder. The system has a multi-stage crushing process with a transverse feeder, mills, oscillating screens, conveyors, and control system. It also has a stirring system to mix a surfactant with the crushed tire particles before grinding to reduce calorific value and prevent fires during grinding.

CN215619330U-patent-drawing

20. Tire Recycling Machine with Metal Detection and Extraction Mechanism

TAN WEIDI, 2021

Environmentally friendly tire recycling machine that can extract metal from waste tires before crushing the rubber. The machine has a rotating table, metal detector, cutting assembly, clamping assembly, crushing assembly, and conveyor belt. If metal is detected, the table stops and cuts off the metal part. The clamping assembly removes the uncut tire section. This allows separating metal objects from tires before crushing, preventing metal contamination in recycled rubber.

21. Two-Stage Tire Cracking System with Preheating, Separation, and Adjustable Spiral Feeder

22. Waste Tire Recycling Process with Magnetic Steel Extraction and Centrifugal Rubber Separation

23. Device for Controlled Separation and Recovery of Steel, Rubber, and Sand from Waste Tires

24. Closed Steel Belt Furnace for Continuous Non-Catalytic Thermal Cracking of Waste Tires Under Positive Pressure

25. Integrated Rubber Recycling System with Sequential Shredding, Crushing, Mixing, Flattening, and Drying for Sheet Formation

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