As recovered carbon black (rCB) gains importance as a key output from tire pyrolysis, Netzsch Group is positioning its technology to support producers in upgrading pyrolysis char into high-performance materials.

In Episode 90 of the Tyre and Rubber Recycling Podcast, Andreas Steinlage, Senior Business Development Manager at Netzsch, outlined how the company’s grinding, classification, and processing systems are increasingly being deployed across the tire recycling value chain.

Video by Tyre and Rubber Recycling magazine.

Headquartered in Bavaria, Netzsch brings more than 150 years of industrial expertise, with operations spanning pumps and systems, grinding and dispersing, and analysing and testing. Within tire recycling, its Grinding and Dispersing division plays a central role, offering solutions for milling, mixing, and particle classification—critical steps in transforming pyrolysis char into consistent, high-quality rCB.

Andreas Steinlage explained that Netzsch’s dry grinding systems can process char directly after pyrolysis, typically starting with feed material up to 6 mm in size. Through fine grinding, producers can achieve particle size distributions such as D97 at 10 microns, meeting common specifications for downstream applications. Jet milling is often the preferred method due to its balance of efficiency and precision, with fluidised bed jet mills like the CGS series delivering high throughput while maintaining tight particle size control.

Beyond grinding, Netzsch provides integrated downstream solutions including granulation, drying, and sieving, enabling fully engineered processing lines. Its classifier wheel technology further enhances product quality by narrowing particle size distribution and reducing oversized fractions. Advanced steam-based classification systems can even achieve cut points below 1 micron, allowing for the removal of ultra-fine or unwanted particles.

Energy efficiency is also a growing focus. Netzsch’s E-Jet process reduces energy consumption in jet milling by using a single-stage compressor operating at relatively low pressure, eliminating the need for cooling stages. The system generates compressed air at elevated temperatures that can be directly reused in the grinding process, cutting energy demand by up to 30%.

With multiple new rCB facilities planned across Europe and existing plants scaling capacity, Netzsch expects strong growth in demand for high-quality recovered carbon black. As sustainability pressures reshape the tire and rubber industries, the ability to produce consistent, application-ready rCB is becoming a key differentiator—and a critical enabler of tire-to-tire circularity.

Article source: Tyre and Rubber Recycling magazine.