Development of waste tire rubber reinforced polymer composites – Phase I

Tire utilization in Saudi Arabia stands at an annual growth rate of 12%. This amount to 13 million waste tires per year equivalent to $800 million/year. This has led to over 20 million waste or scrap tires in Saudi Arabia with an estimated average of one scrap tire being produced per person per year. These numbers are expected to increase in the nearest future due to increasing population, industrialization and per capital income. However, the disposal of this used tires is a major challenge and poses a serious threat to human safety, and it is detrimental to the eco-system. Governmental legislations protecting environment has complicated the problem of disposal of used tires. Thus, there is a dire search for intuitive waste tire management, one of which will be to convert waste tire into useful material. This project seeks to investigate means by which waste tire can be useful as a reinforcement for enhancing the properties of polymer composite with the aim of developing waste tire reinforced cost-effective competitive polymer composite for various applications. The project aimed to investigate the size effect, synthesis process parameters (synthesis pressure and temperature), etc. on the properties of the polymer composite. The developed composites will be fully characterized using analytical, micro-structural and morphological assessment tools, and the mechanical properties will be evaluated and compared with commercially available product. Meanwhile, this phase of the project will focus on literature review and preliminary evaluation of waste tire materials for use as a reinforcement in polymer composites. The significance of this research lies in converting waste to useful materials and expanding the scope of its utilization. It will reduce random disposal and ensure the diversion of waste from landfills through reuse. Furthermore, the utilization of these waste material for developing improved polymer composites will increase the utilization of hydrocarbon-based materials and lower the cost of polymer composites. Besides, the utilization of used tires in polymer composite-based commercial product will also generate huge economic revenue. This will further support Saudi Arabia current effort in waste management and valuable material recovery, which is in accordance with the Kingdoms Vision 2030.