ABSTRACT
In powder technology, physical characteristics such as size, shape, and surface texture are very important in determining particle behavior. Each method of size reduction produces particles with a unique and characteristic surface texture. Using SEM and digital images, Deitering studied the effect of grinding techniques on the morphology of rubber particles produced by four different methods: S3P process, cryogenic, wet grinding, and dry (ambient) grinding [13]. Each grinding technique was shown to produce particles with unique morphological features. In each of the four grinding methods, the tires were first debeaded and then reduced in size using granulators, producing chunks of tire rubber between 50 and 150 mm in size. The textile and steel cords were removed (and recycled), and the remaining material was further reduced to chips about 0.25-in long.
