Apparatus for regenerating vulcanized rubber

摘要

Disclosed is a regenerated rubber, a method and an apparatus for obtaining regenerated rubbers from vulcanized crumb rubber, such as rubber from scrap. The apparatus is a thermokinetic mixer having the particularity to have an air tight stationary chamber with inner non-uniform surface. The method comprises the steps of raising the speed of the rotor shaft in order to increase a temperature of a mixture made of vulcanized crumb rubber and a lubricant, such as oil, until a devulcanizing temperature is reached; and reducing the temperature of the mixture to a lower temperature during a second period of time. The method of the invention is environmentally friendly or “green” since the regeneration method does not use chemicals, includes a shorter period of treatment at higher temperature avoiding the risks of rubber cracking and spontaneous combustion, and further allowing mass-production of regenerated rubber with lower energy consumption.

主权项

1. A thermokinetic mixer for the regeneration of vulcanized crumb rubber, said thermokinetic mixer comprising:
an air tight stationary chamber having an inlet for receiving a crumb rubber mixture, said stationary chamber having sidewalls provided with a cooling jacket, the sidewalls having an inner non-uniform surface; the stationary chamber being also provided with a cooling injection system for injection of a cooling agent within the stationary chamber, the cooling agent comprising water; the stationary chamber having an outlet for exiting regenerated crumb rubber; and a rotor shaft co-axially extending into the stationary chamber, said rotor shaft having blades extending from the shaft into the chamber and a controlled speed varying up to at least about 1800 rpm.