Recycling of gamma irradiated inner tubes in butyl based rubber compounds

Recycling of gamma irradiated inner tubes made of butyl rubber in butyl based rubber compounds was studied. Gamma irradiated inner tube wastes and commercial butyl rubber crumbs devulcanized by conventional methods were replaced with butyl rubber up to 15 phr in the compound recipe. The rheological and mechanical properties and carbon black dispersion degree for both types of compounds were measured and then compared to those of virgin butyl rubber compound. It is well known that mechanical properties are deteriorated when rubber crumb is added to the virgin compound. The deterioration in the mechanical properties for the compounds prepared by recycling of irradiated inner tubes at 120 kGy is much lower than the compounds prepared by using commercial butyl crumbs. It has been observed that gamma irradiated used inner tubes were compatible with butyl rubber and could be recycled within butyl based rubber compounds.