Reclaimed Rubber Product Specs by Source Tyre and Tier
The batch-level quality specifications that buyers test on every shipment of reclaimed rubber — covering composition, mechanical properties by source tyre type, processing behaviour, and contamination limits.
| Property | Spec Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rubber Hydrocarbon Content | Approximately 56 percent | Natural plus synthetic polymers from the source tyre |
| Carbon Black plus Inorganic Ash | Approximately 37 percent | From the original tyre reinforcement and fillers |
| Volatile Matter | Approximately 7 percent | Moisture and residual processing oils |
| Tensile Strength — Truck Tyre Tread Source | 10 to 12 megapascals | Strongest reclaimed rubber; elongation 350 to 400 percent |
| Tensile Strength — Passenger Tyre Tread Source | 8 to 10 megapascals | Mid-grade; elongation 300 to 350 percent |
| Tensile Strength — Sidewall or Inner-tube Source | Lower than tread sources | Used for lower-tier applications |
| Density | 1.10 to 1.15 grams per cubic centimetre | Verified per shipment |
| Hardness | 55 to 65 Shore A | Standard rubber hardness scale |
| Mooney Viscosity at 100 Degrees Celsius | 40 to 60 units | Indicates processing behaviour preservation |
| Elongation at Break | 250 to 400 percent | Depends on source tyre and tier |
| Ash Content | 6 to 10 percent | Inorganic residue; affects bonding in downstream compounds |
| Volatile Matter on Heating | 5 to 9 percent | Measured by heating-loss test |
| Acetone Extract | 8 to 16 percent | Soluble organic content; QC parameter on every shipment |
| Mesh Size for Granulated Form | 30 to 80 mesh typical | Depends on downstream compound requirements |
Beyond definitions
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How to read this table
- Blue rows = composition properties (fixed ratios from tyre materials); dark blue = tensile strength by source tyre; cyan = processing and density properties; amber = elongation, ash, and volatile matter; purple = QC chemistry parameters
- Tensile strength varies by source tyre type — three separate rows cover truck tread, passenger tread, and sidewall/inner-tube
- All properties except composition are per-batch test parameters on every shipment
- Shore A scale for hardness: 0 = softest, 100 = hardest; standard rubber compounds run 40–90 Shore A
About this table
Reclaimed rubber is produced by devulcanizing the rubber from waste tyres — breaking the sulfur cross-links that made the rubber strong and elastic, partially restoring the polymer's ability to be compounded and re-vulcanized. The quality of each batch is determined by two factors: the composition of the source tyre, and the degree of devulcanization achieved. Buyers test a standard set of properties on every shipment before accepting it into their compounding line.
The composition of reclaimed rubber is broadly consistent across sources: approximately 56% rubber hydrocarbon (the natural and synthetic polymer fraction), 37% carbon black and inorganic ash (from the original tyre reinforcement and fillers), and 7% volatile matter (moisture and residual processing oils). These proportions reflect the original tyre's materials rather than the devulcanization process — a useful cross-check when evaluating incoming raw material.
Mechanical properties depend heavily on which part of the tyre the material came from. Truck tyre tread source material yields the strongest reclaimed rubber: 10–12 megapascals tensile strength and 350–400% elongation at break. Passenger tyre tread is mid-grade at 8–10 MPa and 300–350% elongation. Sidewall and inner-tube derived material falls below both in tensile strength and is directed to lower-tier applications. This is why quality-conscious buyers ask for source-tyre documentation, not just a specification sheet.
Processing behaviour is captured through Mooney viscosity (40–60 units at 100°C), which indicates how well the material retains its ability to flow and be processed in downstream compounding. Hardness (55–65 Shore A) and elongation at break (250–400%) are standard rubber testing parameters. Acetone extract (8–16%) measures soluble organic content and is a routine QC parameter on every shipment. Mesh size for granulated reclaimed rubber is typically 30–80 mesh depending on the downstream compound requirement.
Key insights
- Truck tyre tread source material produces significantly stronger reclaimed rubber (10–12 MPa) than passenger tyre tread (8–10 MPa) — source-tyre separation is the single biggest lever on quality
- Reclaimed rubber is approximately 56% rubber hydrocarbon and 37% carbon black and ash — not pure rubber, and buyers compound formulations accordingly
- Mooney viscosity at 100°C (40–60 units) confirms whether the devulcanization process preserved processability — a drop below 40 units indicates over-devulcanization
- Acetone extract (8–16%) is a routine batch test that must be included in every quality certificate — buyers will reject shipments without it
- The 30–80 mesh range for granulated form is wide — confirm the specific mesh size with each buyer before shipping, as compound requirements vary
Methodology & sources
Specification ranges compiled from Indian Standards (IS 6041 for reclaimed rubber), ASTM D-series rubber testing methods, and common buyer acceptance criteria in the Indian tyre retreading and rubber goods manufacturing sector as of 2024. Composition percentages (56/37/7) are approximate typical values; actual batch composition varies with source tyre type and processing. Tensile strength and elongation values are for unreinforced compound test specimens.
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