An overview on waste rubber recycling by microwave devulcanization

Abstract

This review deals with waste rubber recycling by devulcanization treatment using 12 microwave method. In fact, vulcanized rubbers have been extensively used in various 13 fields due to their superior performances. Subsequently, the massive use of such 14 materials, especially in the automotive industry, has generated a substantial amount of 15 wastes which are not easily to be degraded due to the three-dimensional network 16 formed by the vulcanization process. One of the optimal solutions for the successful 17 recycling of rubber is devulcanization, i.e., the process in which the sulfur bonds in 18 the vulcanized material are selectively broken. Currently, to achieve rubber 19 devulcanization, the microwave treatment has been proposed as a promising 20 alternative process due to its precise manipulation of process variables. Furthermore, 21 the microwave process is easily to be coupled with effects of other elements such as 22 chemical and swelling agents. In this work, different microwave devulcanization 23 methods are reviewed, the utilization of the corresponding devulcanized materials has 24 also been discussed. The reviewed contents are believed to be of great interest to 25 academics and industries since they represent a great challenge from scientific, 26 economic and environmental points of view.