ABSTRACT
Many tires are recapped to prolong their life. This may postpone consignment to the scrap heap but the time will come when the tire must be removed from service for safety’s sake. Carbon black, normally produced by the incomplete combustion of oil, soon may be produced using scrap rubber in the process. The rubber industry also is experimenting with a distillation process to convert scrap tires into reusable oils. One use of old tires that may have significant potential is as an energy source to help conserve conventional fuels. Goodyear has used scrap tires as fuel to help produce new tires. Tires are also utilized to construct off-shore floating breakwaters, protect marinas and other shore facilities from wave action. The units may be laced together to form large rectangular open grid floating mats identical to the breakwater structures, or they may be interconnected in circular patterns for a more pleasing overall aesthetic effect.
