What
is carbon black?
As mentioned, the recycling
of rubber tires generates a useful material known as carbon black. Carbon black
is a form of paracrystalline carbon found inside tires themselves and with
recycling, can be reused again without affecting the material’s inherent structure.Carbon black is a key component for tire and plastics manufacturing – most
commonly used as a filler in tire belts and as a reinforcer for other rubber
products. Due to a supply shortage the global market demand for carbon black
stands at over 17 million tons; demand is growing at a rate of 4% a year.
A common source of carbon black is as a by-product in other chemical
production; it is found and collected in unrefined oil and gas waste. But as
refining techniques are improved, the amount of carbon black produced has
decreased, resulting in the short supply and increased demand.
“Green Taxes” have put an additional strain on production of carbon
black as the environmental side effects of oil and gas refining render these
processes economically and environmentally not viable; the supply shortage
combined with the significant environmental toll of the production process
itself has put considerable pressure on the industry to find viable
alternatives.
This is why the Zero Waste Process for rubber tires is a significant step;
being able to recycle old tires and collect a fresh source of a highly
in-demand product is a unique strategic process. At zero cost to the
environment, it is a breakthrough in material production.