A Business Plan for the Production of Crumb Rubber by Solid State Shear Extrusion (Spring 2003) EnPRO 351: A Business Plan for the Production of Crumb Rubber by Solid State Shear Extrusion EnPRO351 Spring2003 Final Presentation

Hamid Arastoopour in Chemical Engineering has developed and patented technology for processing scrap rubber from tires in an extruder. This technology breaks the chemical bonds that result in the rubber being vulcanized. This allows the rubber to be reformed into new shapes and re-vulcanized resulting a true recycling of the material into new rubber parts. Most other rubber recycling technology only grinds up the rubber. These technologies allow the rubber to be used as a filler but does not allow true recycling of the rubber. There is a tremendous supply of used tires are a significant environmental problem as well as waste of a potential resource. This technology could provide the means to effectively use this waste. This EnPRO will look at the issues and opportunities associated with commercializing this exciting technology. This will include an assessment of additional technology development that is needed, an analysis of the cost of implementing this technology, sources of scrap rubber, as well as the market for the recycled rubber. It will also look at possible ways to fund the development. The EnPRO will be supported by a business representative in addition to technical faculty.Sponsorship: IIT Collaboratory for Interprofessional Studies under the Auspices of the Ed Kaplan Entrepreneurial ProgramProject Plan for EnPRO 351: A Business Plan for the Production of Crumb Rubber by Solid State Shear Extrusion for the Spring 2003 semeste