It is difficult to give an exact number for how many car tires are used every year as it can vary depending on the region, country and even manufacturer but globally, the number of tires produced and sold every year is in the billions.
According to the data from the leading market research companies, in 2019 the global tire market was valued at around 180 Billion USD and expected to grow in the next few years.
Old car tires can be recycled and repurposed in a variety of ways. Some of the most common uses for recycled tires include:
As a fuel source: Shredded tires can be burned as a fuel source in power plants, cement kilns, and pulp and paper mills.
In construction materials: Ground-up tires can be used as a substitute for gravel, or as an ingredient in asphalt and other paving materials.
In new tires: Some recycled rubber can be used to create new tires, the process called "tire derived rubber"
Playground surfaces: Rubber mulch made from recycled tires is a popular choice for playgrounds and other recreational areas because it is soft, bouncy, and provides good cushioning in case of falls.
Retaining wall and civil engineering application, to provide erosion control.
Landscaping, for example garden paths and walkways
These are a few of the most common uses for recycled tires, but there are many other potential uses as well, depending on the state of the tires and the technology and equipment available at the recycling facility.
Generally, when recycling used tires for the consumer market (such as garden mats and gym flooring), compression molding is used.
Compression molding is a manufacturing process that is used to create a variety of parts and components from a wide range of materials, including metals, plastics, and composites. The process involves heating a pre-shaped material, called a preform, in a mold and then applying pressure to the preform to make it take the shape of the mold. The process is also called compression forming, press forming, and press molding.
The basic steps of the compression molding process are:
Compression molding materials like old rubber, is generally time consuming and labour intensive.
At Plascon Plastics, we have the patents and know-how to injection mold using PCR and car tires. In this way, with slight modification to product design, we can manufacture much faster and cheaper.
Car tires are much cheaper than typical virgin PP resin. And therefore, it is possible to use tires as a filler to decrease costs.
