Recycled fibres from used tires may hold the key to reducing greenhouse emissions — and creating more crack-resistant concrete.
The Next Generation In Concrete Applications
It was announced in mid-2017 that a $500,000 research project lasting five years have resulted in the creation of the new concrete – which includes 0.35% tire fibres, along with conventional cement, sand and water – that is more than 90% more crack-resistant than normal concrete.
“We didn’t want to apologize for adding a by-product into concrete, and then say, ‘Oh, we lost some strength and we lost some durability, and it doesn’t look that great … We really want this to be something that’s value-added, and we did get a material that’s very high-strength.” ~ Nemy Banthia, UBC Civil Engineering Professor
“What has come from this research is a more resilient type of concrete using recycled tires that could be used for concrete structures like buildings, roads, dams and bridges while reducing landfill waste”, reports, Lou Corpuz-Bosshart, a staff writer for the University of British Columbia.
Sustainable Concrete Means Using Recycled Material
Corpuz-Bosshart also reports that “the new concrete was used to resurface the steps in front of the McMillan building on UBC’s campus in May. Banthia’s team is tracking its performance using sensors embedded in the concrete, looking at the development of strain, cracking and other factors. So far, the results support laboratory testing that showed it can significantly reduce cracking.”
“The product is a major breakthrough because it also takes used tires out of landfills while reducing the amount of cement needed in making concrete, dramatically reducing waste and shrinking the carbon footprint in both industries. Currently, cement production comprises almost 7% of total global greenhouse gas emissions, and the world uses 6 billion cubic metres of concrete every year. Meanwhile, B.C. produces about 4 million kilograms of fibre from used tires annually, and much of that product currently goes directly into landfills. ” ~ Chuck Chiang, BIV Online
With the availability of millions of tires in North America alone, and through a strategic partnership with US-based Liberty Tire, recycled material is easy to source; the challenge is creating the viable solution for an industry that has worldwide influence and impact.
Recycled Tires Was The Perfect Blend of Win-Win
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