Crumb rubber obtained from recycled tires is subjected to an interlinked substitution process. The process utilizes a reactive component that interferes with sulfur bonds. The resulting treated rubber exhibits properties similar to those of the virgin composite rubber structure prior to being granulated, and is suitable for use in fabricating new tires, engineered rubber articles, and asphalt rubber for use in waterproofing and paving applications.

A process for extracting fuel products from waste rubber, comprising the steps of subjecting the waste rubber to pyrolysis to produce a pyrolysis vapour, subjecting the pyrolysis vapour to a condensation step to produce a pyrolytic oil having a boiling point range of 45-400? C. and a flash point below 25? C., and then subjecting the pyrolytic oil to a vacuum steam stripping step so as to recover a fraction having a first composition having a flash point above 55? C., a boiling point range starting at 140? C. or higher, a density at 15? C. of less than 990 kg/m.sup.3, a total acid number TAN of up to 12, a styrene content of less than 3000 ppm, and an organic halogen (as Cl) content of less than 50 ppm, and a second composition having an initial boiling point not exceeding 75? C. under atmospheric pressure, a density at 15? C. of greater than 790 kg/m.sup.3, a benzene content of at least 1.25 vol %, an existent gum (washed) content greater than 10 mg/100 ml, an organic halogen (as Cl) content of less than 50 mg/kg, and a colour of less than 5.0.

A method for recycling a vulcanized rubber compound. The method includes the steps of grinding recycled rubber compound into a plurality of ground rubber particles, adding a suitable amount of labyrinthine or barrier forming material to a fresh rubber compound, mixing the plurality of ground rubber particles with the fresh rubber compound containing the labyrinthine material, and co-vulcanizing the mixture of the plurality of ground rubber particles with the fresh rubber compound containing the labyrinthine material.

Crumb rubber obtained from recycled tires is subjected to an interlinked substitution process. The process utilizes a reactive component that interferes with sulfur bonds. The resulting treated rubber exhibits properties similar to those of the virgin composite rubber structure prior to being granulated, and is suitable for use in fabricating new tires, engineered rubber articles, and asphalt rubber for use in waterproofing and paving applications.

Crumb rubber obtained from recycled tires is subjected to an interlinked substitution process. The process utilizes a reactive component that interferes with sulfur bonds. The resulting treated rubber exhibits properties similar to those of the virgin composite rubber structure prior to being granulated, and is suitable for use in fabricating new tires, engineered rubber articles, and asphalt rubber for use in waterproofing and paving applications.

A devulcanizing additive for vulcanized elastomers is described, said additive having improved efficiency and selectivity, together with the relative method of devulcaniztion, in continuous and batchwise, and the devulcanized product obtained by means of said devulcaniztion method of vulcanized elastomers.

A method for the controlled removal of water from devulcanized rubber, comprising steps of contacting the devulcanized rubber with a solvent, dissolving the water out of the devulcanized rubber and into solution without removing other components in the rubber such as polymer, separating the devulcanized rubber from the solvent, and drying the devulcanized rubber. By controlling the amount of water that is in the solvent-solution, and/or the amount of time the devulcanized rubber is in contact with the solvent solution the amount of water that is removed can be controlled. By controlling the amount of water that is removed the rheology/viscosity (e.g. G and G) of the devulcanized rubber can be controlled.

Provided is a thermal decomposition method of used rubber that has excellent yields of isoprene and limonene without reducing the efficiency of thermal decomposition. The method is a method of thermally decomposing used rubber, including bringing the used rubber into contact with or swelling the used rubber in a medium, where the medium has a SP value of 8.3 (cal/cm.sup.3).sup.1/2 to 11 (cal/cm.sup.3).sup.1/2 and an endothermic peak temperature of 235? C. or higher measured by thermogravimetry (TGA), and the medium is liquid at 150? C., and then performing thermal decomposition.

A single-screw extrusion desulfurization and post-processing system and a method for preparing reclaimed rubber. The single-screw extrusion desulfurization and post-processing system comprises: a single-screw desulfurization device, a single-screw post-processing device and a closed connection device for connecting the single-screw desulfurization device and the single-screw post-processing device, the single-screw post-processing device includes a post-processing feeding unit and a post-processing unit which are connected with each other, and a post-processing screw running through the post-processing feeding unit and the post-processing unit.

A process for producing an environmentally-friendly plasticizer, which is particularly suitable for use in vehicle tires or technical rubber articles. A vulcanized and/or unvulcanized polymer material of a high molecular weight is converted into a low-molecular phase by direct thermal liquefaction. The vulcanized and/or unvulcanized high-molecular-weight polymer material is provided as a polymer powder and/or a granulated polymer and can be obtained from used tires.