Non-chemical, mechanical procedure for the devulcanization of scrap rubber and/or elastomers and apparatus therefor

US8957119B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Entex Rust & Mitschke GmbH · DE

Inventor

• Harald Rust · Bochum, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 26, 2012
• Grant date: Feb 17, 2015
• Expiry date: Sep 5, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02W30/62
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Method of devulcanizing rubber and/or elastomers without the need for a chemical agent, in which method the vulcanized rubber and/or elastomers are fed into a planetary roller extruder, which planetary roller extruder has a housing, a central spindle, two groups of planetary roller spindles, and a dispersion ring disposed about the central spindle and between the two groups of planetary spindles. Mechanical and thermal stress is generated on the vulcanized rubber and/or elastomers by kneading and/or crushing the vulcanized rubber and/or elastomers using the central spindle and the planetary spindles, and by forcing the vulcanized rubber and/or elastomers through the dispersion ring, which is designated to substantially restrict passage of the vulcanized rubber and/or elastomers therethrough. The mechanical and thermal stress alone is sufficient to break or destroy the molecular chains or bonds of the vulcanized rubber and/or elastomers.