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Feedstock Conversion Opportunities The 2009 Feedstock Conversion Report 2 indicates that there are a number of rubber products for which crumb rubber from waste tires could potentially add value compared to virgin rubber raw materials. In addition, the report notes that crumb rubber can be used in combination with plastics in certain products currently made from plastic only. Examples of products include:  Window and door seals/gaskets;  Automotive mud flaps;  Wheel well spray sealants;  Floor mats;

 Soaker hose;  Floating docks;  Dock bumpers;  Rubberized asphalt;  Crack sealant;  Sports/playground surfacing;  Expansion joints;  Sound barriers;  Guard rail components; and  Roofing shingles.

 Carpet underlay;  Flooring and tiles;  Industrial belts and rollers;  Vibration pads;  Wheel chocks;  Drains and downspouts;

The starting point for evaluating specific feedstock conversion opportunities is customer needs, and determining how use of crumb rubber can add value to current practices to satisfy them and drive sales. In practice, this may involve working closely with manufacturers, crumb rubber suppliers and compounders to develop and validate through product testing hypotheses about the potential benefits of using crumb rubber as feedstock. Some of the opportunities for benefits that have driven California firms to undertake feedstock conversion projects include: Reducing Production Cost . In many cases, replacing a percentage of virgin rubber or plastic with recycled tire rubber can reduce costs. This benefit is of course dependent on market and pricing trends for conventional materials like natural or synthetic virgin rubber or plastic resins, which vary with the price of petroleum and related by-products. The cost savings also depends on the percentage conversion and amount used in each product. Feedstock conversion involves new costs as well, especially during the evaluation and testing stage, and manufacturers must consider this as well. Enhancing Product Performance . Crumb rubber can provide certain product performance benefits that can drive feedstock conversion. Performance is influenced by particle size, particle size distribution, rubber chemistry and surface morphology. And, depending on the type of compounds used, the manufacturing process and the type of product, performance benefits may include: durability, flexibility, water resistance, slip resistance, tensile strength, cushioning, and

2 Available at http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Publications/Documents/Tires%5C2009016.pdf

Contractor’s Report

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