Utilizing recycled rubber crumb in the production of road surfaces and related products is contributing to South Africa's efforts toward a circular economy, where waste materials are repurposed for critical infrastructure needs.

Dr. Mehran Zarrebini, CEO of Mathe Group, a radial truck tire recycler in Hammarsdale, SA, notes that their factory processes about 1,000 radial truck tires per day, resulting in approximately 45 tons of rubber crumb.

This rubber crumb is supplied to Tosas, a manufacturer of bitumen products, for the creation of rubber modified bitumen, which is utilized by the South African National Road Agency (SANRAL) for extensive road upgrades in Gauteng and routes leading from the Durban port.

Tosas approached Mathe Group for rubber crumb supply in 2016, following Mathe Group's relocation to Hammarsdale from its previous site in New Germany.

Deon Pagel, managing director of Tosas, mentions that Tosas, with over five decades of operation, was originally jointly owned by Total and Sasol. He emphasizes Tosas's commitment to staying current with technological advancements to maintain its leading position in bitumen supply.

According to Pagel, the term "tarred" roads is outdated, as tar, extracted from coal and carcinogenic, has been replaced with bitumen, derived from crude oil. He highlights the superiority of bitumen and the environmental benefit of recycling old tires into a usable product.

This arrangement has led to the widespread specification of bitumen rubber by government and other road authorities for road construction across the country.

Mathe Group's involvement extends beyond rubber crumb production; it collaborated with Tosas to design and establish a secondary plant for producing New Crumb Rubber Technology (NCRT). This process involves coating the rubber crumb with aromatic oil and specialized waxes, resulting in pre-swollen rubber crumb suitable for asphalt mixes and spray seal applications, offering enhanced longevity and requiring lower mixing temperatures.

Source: Capital Equipment News Magazine.